Royal Watch News

Zara Phillips loves quiet weekends

Sep 5, 2012, 19:27 GMT

Zara Phillips

Britain's Zara Phillips loves 'quiet' Saturdays in the pub.

The eventing champion - who is the daughter of Princess Anne - admits she and husband Mike Tindall rarely get much time to relax but when they do, they love to hang out with friends.

She said: 'On the rare occasions that we do get a weekend off, we enjoy spending it together at our home in Cheltenham, with the dogs of course.

'I'll make a quick detour to Waitrose on the way back from the yard and Mike and I will cook something easy for supper - probably Italian.

'As most of my socialising takes place at competitions during the eventing season, I like the contrast of a quiet Saturday night at a pub with friends and then on Sunday I'll go swimming and catch up on all the chores I haven't done.

'I enjoy having Sunday lunch with the family and, when it's cold and wet outside, watching a film afterwards.'

However, Zara admits she won't be having many weekends like that in the coming weeks as she is so busy with her riding commitments.

She told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: 'This will all have to wait though, as it's not until October that I'll hang up my boots for the season.

'For the time being it's more early starts and long journeys in the lorry.

'I often get back to the yard in the middle of the night and spend the next hour unloading the horses and all the kit which can be exhausting.

'[But] despite the unsociable hours, it never takes much to get me back in the saddle the next day.

'I'm lucky that I am able to do what I love.'