Royal cousins Zara Tindall and Prince William have shared a close bond since childhood, to the extent that Princess Anne’s daughter has become “the sister William never had,” according to royal author Ingrid Seward. Born just 13 months apart, their connection has remained strong.
At 43, Zara has recently emerged as a pillar of support for the royals during challenging times. She has been visibly supportive of her cousin William, notably offering a comforting arm at Royal Ascot in June.
Following their embrace, they linked arms as they caught up in the Parade Ring.
“Zara is the sister William never had,” Ingrid said in this week’s issue. “They’ve always had terrific fun together and have always supported each other.”
Warm and affectionate, Zara, who is one of Prince George’s godparents, has shown her support to both William, as his wife Kate undergoes cancer treatment, and his father King Charles, who is recovering from cancer himself.
In May, along with Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara and her brother Peter Phillips, 46, assisted William in hosting a garden party at Buckingham Palace after he reached out to them on WhatsApp. A royal insider commented, “They are uniquely placed to understand how the royal family and the institution works, without having the titles and responsibilities themselves. They can support William as cousins because they’ve been there all his life and understand the institution.”
Zara’s closeness to the monarchy and William was evident as she chatted with his equerry Lieutenant Commander Rob Dixon and Kate’s private secretary Lieutenant Colonel Tom White.
“She is very bright and intuitive about people,” said Ingrid, author of My Mother and I: The Inside Story of The King and Our Late Queen. “And she has the best of both worlds. She understands what royal life is like, but she can live her life as she chooses, without the pressure faced by more senior royals.”
Zara Tindall Is Like The Sister Prince William Never Had
