UK Edition
Zara Tindall falls off her horse while playing polo on Australia's Gold Coast
The Queen's granddaughter Zara Tindall suffered a fall while playing polo on Australia’s Gold Coast over the weekend.
The royal, 35, came off her horse midway through a competition at the Magic Millions Polo in Queensland on Sunday.
Footage showed Mrs Tindall falling onto the dusty ground before getting straight back onto her horse and giving a thumbs up. Sources said she was not injured in the “gentle fall”.
Mike Tindall, who was commentating for the event due to his position as Magic Millions ambassador, told the crowd the fall was due to her “will to win” and joked: “She’s tough, she bounces.”
He later said he “didn’t have a clue” about the game and knew he just needed to say “something nice about the wife”.
It was the couple’s first public appearance since a spokesman announced they had suffered a miscarriage just before Christmas.
They had been expecting a second child together this spring, but a statement released on Christmas Eve said: “Very sadly, Zara and Mike Tindall have lost their baby. At this difficult time, we ask that everyone respects their privacy.”
The duo, who got married in July 2011, had been expected to spend Christmas Day with the royals in Sandringham but were not seen at the family’s traditional church service over the festive period.
They are believed to have travelled to Australia earlier this month for the event, which they also attended last year. Their daughter Mia, who will be three later this month, was not photographed at the event.
Before the fall, Mrs Tindall looked happy and relaxed as she walked round the park in a white lace shirt-style dress, which featured elbow length sleeves and cut-out detailing. She matched the dress with a maroon handbag.
Local reports said she later headed to the VIP marquee, where a spokesman for the polo club said that she was “keen and ready to play”.
She competed at the event as part of “Team A” alongside Michelle Payne, the first woman jockey to win Australia’s most prestigious horse race, and Rob Archibald. Around 2,000 spectators are thought to have attended the event.