Royal Watch News

Zara Phillips's Cheltenham Festival altercation

Mar 13, 2013, 12:02 GMT

Zara Phillips disagreeing with a security guard Cheltenham racecourse

Britain's Zara Phillips was left unimpressed after an altercation with a security guard yesterday (12.03.13).

The 31-year-old royal - the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth - clashed with the official on the first day of the annual Cheltenham Festival horse race meeting in Gloucestershire, south west England, when he appeared not to recognise her and wouldn't let her cross the parade ring.

Zara - who was with her husband Mike Tindall - was seen having a dispute with the security guard after watching one of yesterday's races at the Prestbury Park course, where the exit to the ring is usually temporarily blocked off to allow horses to enter after a race.

But the official finally let her pass and both she and rugby star Mike appeared to see the funny side of the incident afterwards.

Cheltenham racecourse organisers have said the unnamed security guard was simply 'doing his job' and trying to keep guests safe.

A Cheltenham Festival spokesman told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: 'After each race we have a line of security guards in the middle of the parade ring, whose job it is to stop people walking from one side to the other in front of the winning and placed horses who are about to walk in.

'That is what happened in this case. We would support the actions of the stewards 100 per cent.

'He was doing his job and looking after the safety of the public, which at that point she is a member of.'

Zara - who won a team silver medal in the three-day eventing at the London 2012 Olympics last summer - wrapped up warm in a cosy cream coat and purple hat on the freezing cold day, while Mike donned a dark blue suit.

A number of other stars also attended the race meeting including former Olympic sprinter Denise Lewis and soccer star Paul Merson.

Mike's horse Monbeg Dude - which he won at a charity auction after making a joke £12,000 bid for the equine - will compete in the prestigious Cheltenham Gold Cup race on Friday (15.03.13), the highlight of the meeting, but it looks unlikely to win with current odds of 66/1.