A little rain didn’t stop Zara Tindall from looking great and mingling with guests at the latest Buckingham Palace garden party.
Prince William invited his cousins Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Peter Phillips and Zara to help him host the outdoor event on behalf of King Charles on May 21. However, the damp London weather meant some extra accessories were needed.
While many of the royals and attendees held umbrellas to shield themselves from raindrops during the event, Zara, 43, added an unexpected yet handy piece to her pink shoes. Upon a close look, Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter sported clear, protective stoppers on her heels to prevent her from sinking into the wet lawn so she could mingle with guests on the grass.
Queen Elizabeth, who died in 2022, admitted that the weather “can be a bit of a worry” when it comes to throwing garden parties at the royal residences.
“Well, you do rather hope the sun shines as when you invite 8,000 people to have tea on your lawn,” the history-making monarch told Victoria English, a teacher from Wales, while attending a 2019 gathering.
The royal family is known for clever fashion tricks, from Kate Middleton wearing bodysuits to create a smooth silhouette without any fear of a top untucking to Queen Elizabeth reportedly having curtain weights sewn into the hems of her dresses to prevent a wardrobe malfunction on a windy day.
At the garden party, Zara perfectly coordinated with her cousins Princess Beatrice, 35, and Princess Eugenie, 34, in pink and white ensembles. Beatrice popped in a bold pink dress with long sleeves and a white hat, while her younger sister chose a white dress with a pale pink headpiece. Meanwhile, Zara sported a white dress with pink buttons, accessorizing her look with a pink hat and heels.
Meanwhile, the men — including Zara’s brother, Peter Phillips, and husband, Mike Tindall — looked dapper in top hats and suits.
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
The gathering of five of Queen Elizabeth’s eight grandchildren was a rare royal event. Only Prince William is a working member of the royal family, while Beatrice, Eugenie, Peter and Zara have jobs while also supporting charities.
Not in attendance at the garden party were the two youngest of the royal cousins, 20-year-old Lady Louise, who is studying at the Prince of Wales’ alma mater the University of St. Andrews in Scotland, and 16-year-old James, Earl of Wessex. Prince Harry, who moved to wife Meghan Markle’s home state of California in 2020 after they stepped back as working members of the royal family, also was not present.
Zara’s outing came after another special event: her 43rd birthday on May 15!
Mike appeared on Good Morning Britain on May 17 from the Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic, sharing details about his wife’s low-key birthday celebrations.
The former professional rugby player described the “lovely day,” starting with Zara, an accomplished equestrian who earned a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics, going for a “ride in the morning.”
“Then we went out for lunch and then we just hung out all day and had a few friends over in the evening for dinner. It was a very, very nice day,” Mike, 45, said. “Probably why I had a quieter night last night because I might have had a few the night before.”
Zara and her brother joined Mike at the golf tournament, which raises money for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust and the Matt Hampson Foundation. Mike’s father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2003, and he often takes on challenges to raise funds and awareness.
People
