Zara delays wedding announcement

May 14, 2007, 12:00 GMT

Britain's Zara Phillips and fiancé Mike Tindall have scrapped plans to make a wedding announcement.

The pair became secretly engaged at Christmas and were thought to be on the verge of making their wedding plans public.

However, champion equestrian Zara has decided to delay an officially statement so she can concentrate on training for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

It is thought that Zara, the daughter of Britain's Princess Anne, came to her decision after discussions with her father Captain Mark Phillips.

A source told Britain's The Mail on Sunday: "She is focusing all her efforts on bringing home the gold medal. As far as her father is concerned, her career is the most important thing.

"Her mother Princess Anne is really fond of Mike, but Zara's father has his reservations. He's not convinced it's a perfect match and has told Zara to hold off making anything official and concentrate instead on her sport."

The insider also claims that Captain Phillips believes Tindall is "too laid back" and previously demanded that his daughter rethink the relationship.

Despite her father's reservations, it is still thought that Zara is keen to get the couple's marriage plans underway as soon as her Olympic bid is over.

(C) BANG Media International