Zara Tindall Reveals Mark Phillips Took a Tough Approach to Parenting

Growing up in a family deeply involved in equestrian sport, Zara Tindall experienced two different approaches to coaching and parenting. The British equestrian, daughter of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, has recalled how her father pushed her to improve her riding, while her mother generally allowed her to develop at her own pace.

Speaking to Pippa Funnel and Tristan Phipps on the Talk Horse podcast in an episode broadcast on Thursday, Zara described the contrast between her parents' expectations. Anne and Mark raised Zara and her brother, Peter Phillips, at the Gatcombe Estate in Gloucestershire before ending their marriage in 1992.

Zara explained that her mother tended to encourage her without demanding specific changes, whereas her father regularly identified areas that needed improvement.

"Mum's [Princess Anne] very relaxed. She's like, 'Just, you know, just do what you do,' whereas my father's [Mark Phillips] like, 'More of this, more of that.'" Zara said on the podcast.

She also recalled that praise from her father was uncommon, making his approval something she continually worked toward during her development as a rider.

"My father was quite critical... Very rarely you would get a, 'Yeah, that was good,' out of him. So it was always striving to try and get that comment.

He was a tough coach. My dad and my mum were like, 'But you have to do it properly. And this is how it's going to work, and you're not getting any help, and you need to produce results'."

Zara said.

Her competitive career includes a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics and recognition as BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2006. Earlier this year, she also won the British Open, marking her first major competition victory in nearly 20 years.

Zara and her husband, Mike Tindall, have three children: Mia, 12, Lena, eight, and Lucas, four. Their experiences as parents have included moments that remind Zara of her own childhood, particularly when her children react to her instructions.

Mike recently described the family's competitive nature, saying the children take after their mother, particularly when racing each other up the stairs at bedtime.

Zara also discussed taking Mia riding alongside her cousins Savannah and Isla Phillips, the daughters of Peter Phillips and his former wife, Autumn Kelly. She recalled that Mia reacted impatiently when Zara gave her an instruction during the activity.

"I took Mia for a jump the other day. Mia and her two cousins. And then I said, 'To me' or something, she just rolled her eyes and went 'Urgh', I was like, 'I literally said the same thing to the other guys.

They didn't roll their eyes at me'." Zara said.

She acknowledged that her own reaction to parental instructions may have been similar when she was young.

"I think I was probably like that with my mother and father too; I'm sure they'll tell you that," Zara added.

Mark Phillips made a rare public appearance in June when he attended Peter's second wedding to Harriet Sperling in the Cotswolds. He was seen outside All Saints' Church in Cirencester, accompanied by Florence Standaert, who has been linked to him.

Mark was married to Princess Anne from 1973 until their divorce in 1992. The couple separated in 1989, following reported affairs on both sides, but they have remained on good terms and continue to encounter each other at equestrian events.

Beyond his children with Anne, Mark has a daughter, Felicity Tonkin, born in August 1985, with New Zealand art teacher Heather Tonkin. He also has a daughter, Stephanie Phillips, from his second marriage to Sandy Pflueger.