Zara Phillips Olympics Equestrian Event: How Did She Fare?

Her cousins and Kate are back to cheer her and the GB Team on during Day 4 of the Summer Games

Published on July 31, 2012 10:10 AM

Spoiler Alert: Results from the Olympic Games are available live online, several hours ahead of the telecasts. If you’d rather find out how the athletes fare on TV, stop reading here!

With her cousins cheering her on for the second day running, Zara Phillips jumped into the history books on Tuesday’s Day Four of the Summer Games when she became the first British royal to win a silver Olympics medal – as part of the five-member Team GB equestrians’ dramatic morning.

Despite a setback when Phillips clipped a fence, the announcer confirmed that the final round by team member Tina Cox had “guaranteed team silver.” With that, spectator Prince William held his arms up in a clenched-fist victory salute. (For the record, Germany’s team took the gold.)

But a beaming Phillips got more than a medal when she stood on the podium at the arena at Greenwich Park – she got a kiss on both cheeks from her mother, Princess Anne, who, as a former Olympian and IOC member can give out medals.

As they were Monday, William, wife Kate and Prince Harry were back in the stands along with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie to add their support. Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, along with Zara’s mum Princess Anne and Zara’s husband Mike Tindall also made up the family cheerleaders.

Kate, who wore the same blue blazer she did on Monday, this time over a Breton-style top, was both laughing and applauding with William as the contest moved toward its nail-biting climax.

Before the packed crowd there was a palpable silence that gradually built to an excited murmur as Cox and her horse Miner’s Frolic negotiated every fence, insuring that the team would stay in the silver medal position.

When Phillips hit the fence she also picked up a time penalty, although this was made up for by a storming round by Mary King and another by Cook.

“I just had to get on with it,” a teary Phillips told the BBC about her hitting the second fence. “Unfortunately that happens but he [horse High Kingdom] jumps magnificently and he lost two shoes yesterday. I’m just disappointed for the team but I’m chuffed to bits for him. The whole week has been an amazing experience.”