Royal Watch News

Zara Phillips: Olympic Parade crowd were 'unbelievable'

Sep 11, 2012, 12:01 GMT

Zara Phillips

Britain's Zara Phillips says it was 'unbelievable' to see so many people support athletes at the Olympic Parade in London yesterday (10.09.12).

The blonde royal - who was involved in the spectacle after winning a team silver medal in the three-day eventing at the Games - was overwhelmed by the one million fans who turned out to toast the success of Team GB and ParalympicsGB following their huge haul of medals at London 2012.

She told BBC News: 'Unbelievable, to think that everyone's come out for all of us.

'This is like the whole Games though, you know. That's what made it. The crowd were unbelievable and we are so grateful to them.'

The parade saw athletes transported through London to Buckingham Palace, where they enjoyed speeches by dignitaries and were serenaded by The Pet Shop Boys, Katherine Jenkins and Amy Macdonald.

Zara watched on as her mother and former Olympian Princess Anne, President of the British Olympic Association, paid tribute to the Games' organisers, volunteers and athletes during a speech, insisting they have 'set the tone for the future'.

Anne was joined by Prime Minister David Cameron and Mayor of London Boris Johnson, who also praised everyone involved in making London 2012 a success.

Speaking after thanking athletes gathered behind him in front of Buckingham Palace, he said: 'Every single one of you - this was your achievement, you brought this country together in a way we never expected.

'You routed the doubters and you scattered the gloomsters and for the first time in living memory you caused Tube train passengers to break into spontaneous conversation with their neighbours about subjects other than their trod-on toes.'