Since February, King Charles has stepped back from his public duties as he focuses on his health. However, since May, His Majesty has resumed some of his roles but is still being selective with his outings.
Discover our latest podcast
As a result, the King has had to rely on other family members. Moreover, Princess Kate, who made her first appearance since last year at Trooping the Colour, is also focusing on her health, which leaves fewer relatives to pick up the extra load.
This means that King Charles is relying on members that are not working Royals. Indeed, it has been suggested that the King will bring his niece, Princess Beatrice on an overseas trip later this year.
Moreover, there are rumours that His Majesty will make another one of his nieces a Princess as he requires more help.
King Charles could make Zara Tindall a Princess
According to Express, King Charles is allegedly thinking about bestowing his niece, Zara Tindall with the title of Princess. It remains unknown where this information is coming from, but one thing is certain—Princess Anne’s daughter has been quite helpful these last few months.
Zara attended the Buckingham Palace garden party, hosted by her cousin, Prince William, to show her support. Moreover, the mum-of-three attended the Windsor Horse Show with King Charles, and the two looked particularly close.
A source claimed, as per Express:
There's talk that niece Zara Tindall, 43, who is very close to her uncle (as witnessed by their loving moment at the Windsor Horse show recently) might become more involved in this side of things, and that Charles is keen to support such an interest by bestowing on her the title of princess.
However, it is thought that if His Majesty does grant his niece the title of Princess, it could cause some tension with his own sister, Princess Anne. As many know, Princess Anne’s children, Peter and Zara, were not given the titles of Prince and Princess at their birth as the Princess Royal decided it wouldn’t benefit them.
Princess Anne has previously said that being a princess was a ‘mixed blessing’. In an interview with Vanity Fair, the Princess Royal explained the reason she didn’t give her children titles:
I think most people would argue that there are downsides to having titles… So I think that was probably the right thing to do.
It seems that Zara Tindall is thankful that her mother didn’t make her a Princess.
Zara Tindall has thanked Princess Anne for her upbringing
Zara Tindall has previously publicly thanked her mother, Princess Anne, for the way she was brought up. She previously told Rob Burrow, who recently passed away, on The Total Sport Podcast, that she was ‘lucky’ she and her brother weren’t given titles as it meant they were able to choose their own path.
Zara explained:
From my point of view, I was obviously very lucky that my mother didn't give us any titles so I really commend her on that. We were very lucky that we got to do it a bit our own way.
Zara Tindall went on to have a successful equestrian career and even competed in the Olympics. As per Team GB, Zara wasn’t able to compete and the 2004 and 2008 Olympics due to injuries to her horse, but she competed in the London 2012 Olympics, winning a silver medal.
Moreover, not being a Princess gives Zara more freedom. As many know, she married former England rugby player Mike Tindall. Mike is very active on his Instagram account, often sharing snippets of his life, which includes golfing with his wife.
Over the weekend, neither attended the King’s Birthday Parade, instead, they went to P!nk’s sold-out show at Wembley Stadium. Mike Tindall shared photos of the event on his Instagram stories.
In the same interview with The Total Sport Podcast, Zara explained that her family has a ‘great work ethic’ which she ‘hopes’ has been instilled in her. She also adds that she would like to instill that same ethic into her children, Mia, 10, Lena, 5, and Lucas, 3.
Hopefully, we can pass it onto our kids. Now, my brother and my cousins love to go back and do the same things and I hope that our children have the same experiences that we did when we were growing up. You don't really appreciate that until you're older and you've got kids.
If King Charles does decide to make his niece Princess, her work ethic and already close bond with the monarch would definitely help her ease into royal duties.
King Charles and Zara Tindall have a close bond
Indeed, according to Tatler, the King and his niece, Zara Tindall share a rather close bond. Back in May, the two attended the Royal Windsor Horse Show together. Zara greeted her uncle with a hug, which isn’t the typical way members of the Royal Family greet the King.
However, His Majesty welcomed the hug and returned it all the while smiling at his niece. It seems that King Charles is carrying on in his mother’s footsteps by enjoying the Windsor Horse Show.
Tatler adds that it has been widely known that King Charles and Zara have gotten on well for years and often enjoy one another’s company, such as Royal Ascot. On several occasions, the former Olympian has thrown an arm around her uncle as a greeting.
Read more:
Mike and Zara Tindall: The two royals in the spotlight could hint at a new role in the Royal Family
Princess Anne's life in images: How she became the 'hardest working royal'
Peter Phillips: Princess Anne's son spotted with new girlfriend Harriet Sperling
Sources used:
Hello!: ‘Why Princess Anne did not give Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall royal titles’
Mirror: ‘Zara and Mike Tindall's real reason for missing King's birthday parade’
Express: ‘King Charles 'could cause friction' as he 'plans to bestow Princess title on Zara Tindall'
Tatler: ‘Hugs for Charles! The King shows off his close bond with Zara Tindall as he joins his niece at the Royal Windsor Horse Show’
Vanity Fair: 'Princess Anne Opens Up About Her Lifetime as a Royal'
Team GB: ‘Zara Phillips’
