Zara Tindall Gets Honest About the 'Hole' Left by Queen Elizabeth's Death

Zara Tindall

When Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022 at age 96, her absence left a hole not only in the hearts of the senior British Royal family and fans across the globe but in the life of her granddaughter, Zara Tindall.

Tindall, 42—the daughter of Anne, Princess Royal, and Captain Mark Phillips, is Queen Elizabeth II's eldest granddaughter. Despite the monarch's royal duties and their 50-plus age difference, Queen Elizabeth and Tindall bonded deeply over their shared passion for horses and equestrian competition.

In an interview with The Australian Women's Weekly magazine, Tindall opened up about how Queen Elizabeth's death has left a lasting impact.

"When you’ve got someone who’s a huge influence in your life, it leaves a hole," the professional equestrian said, per People.

Tindall added: "She very much knew what was going on in my career as I was growing up. You got to see her real passion and love for the horses and that side of her."

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Tindall (née Phillips) won a silver medal as a member of the Great Britain Eventing Team. Her mother, Princess Anne—also a former Olympian—notably presented her medal.

During her interview with The Australian Women's Weekly, Tindall also touched upon her grandmother's influence on her children. The royal shares three kids with her husband Mike Tindall: Mia, 9, Lena, 5, and Lucas, 2.

Tindall explained that although "Lucas doesn’t remember" his great-grandmother, "the girls do very much."

"We've got the photo of Lucas with her, whereas the other two actually remember," Mike told the publication. "She was a big part of our holidays and family time."

Next: Queen Elizabeth’s Family Tree—All About the British Royals’ Lineage, From Charles to Lucas Tindall