Zara Phillips, Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter, will not only look the part at the upcoming London Olympic Games, she will be living like her fellow competitors, too.
Zara Phillips, Princess Anne’s daughter, is to be given no special treatment, it has emerged, staying in the Olympic village and sharing the same security and transport as other athletes.
On Monday, Zara Phillips, 31, told of her excitement at the prospect of rubbing shoulders with the likes of Usain Bolt during her stay.
Zara Phillips, who missed out on two previous Olympics due to injuries to her horse, promised to give her “best performance” in front of a home crowd in London.
Zara Phillips, Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter, will not only look the part at the upcoming London Olympic Games, she will be living like her fellow competitors, too
She said: “Obviously it will be great to be part of the Olympics and get the atmosphere and the buzz of being a part of it.
“A lot of the time, the equestrian is quite far out so they’ve made a really big effort this time to try and have us part of the Olympics and benefit from that.”
Zara Phillips, who will ride as part of the five-strong eventing team at Greenwich Park, around six miles from the main Olympic park, said Her Majesty had been delighted when she told her that she had made the Olympic team.
The former sports personality of the year missed out on Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 after her then horse, Toytown, suffered late injuries.
“I’m keeping my fingers crossed because we’ve still got a few weeks to go and we all know what horses are like,” she said.
Equestrian performance director Will Connell said the eventing team would stay in the Olympic village – and was adamant their royal member would be well protected by the security put in place by Olympics organizers.
“It’s not an issue,” he said.
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Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge were the star attractions at last night’s gala to mark the countdown to the London Olympic Games.
The royal couple attended the Our Greatest Team Rises Gala dinner at London’s Royal Albert Hall and both looked stylish and sophisticated as they walked down the red carpet.
Prince William looked his usual dapper self in a black tuxedo while Duchess Catherine – also known as Kate Middleton – was stunning in a floor-length teal Jenny Packham dress. Her long brunette locks were put up in an elegant knotted bun while she wore her Jimmy Choo “Vamp” sandals on her feet.
The black tie gala evening marked the final countdown to the London 2012 Games – which start on July 27 – as well as raising critical funds to support the competitors.
Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge were the star attractions at last night's gala to mark the countdown to the London Olympic Games
Once inside, Prince William gave a witty speech to the 3,000 guests in which he likened his physique to that of a pigeon.
He quipped: ”Naturally, I was asked to compete for TeamGB in every sport, but sadly Lord Coe said there were London pigeons with more athletic prowess than me. Anyway to adapt a famous phrase from Sir Steve Regrave, if you see me in a pair of Speedos during the Olympics, shoot me!”
Prince William then went on to say how excited he was at the prospect of the Games in his home city of London.
He said: ”These Games remind us of the power of the human spirit and human endeavour. You, our Olympians and Paralympians, will inspire people up and down this country, and far beyond its borders. For the athletes of Our Greatest Team, these Games mark the pinnacle of your sporting careers. I can only imagine it… competing at home, in front of your countrymen and women, with the eyes of the entire world upon you. A dream come true.
”For all of us mere mortals – and I include my brother, Harry, still droning on about beating Usain…it never counted as it was a false start…this is a lifetime opportunity. We will witness an exceptional moment in our Island History. The mood in London will be electric, ecstatic, amazing. I just can’t simply wait.”
Other guests at the gala included British Olympic champions, Sir Steve Redgrave, Dame Kelly Holmes and Sally Gunnell while Kimberley Walsh was there to perform the official single, Queen’s “One Vision” with tenor Alfie Boe.
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