As the royal family led the entire country in celebrations for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee one member was largely absent. Her Majesty's granddaughter, rider Zara Phillips, stayed away because she's focusing on her dream of competing in the Olympics. With selectors due to announce their team for eventing, the talented equestrian came third at Bramham Horse Trials taking her a step closer to her goal.
She was filmed by her husband Mike Tindall as she sailed round the course on her mount High Kingdom – ahead of a meeting of the selectors this week. In 2007 Zara was awarded an MBE because of her sporting achievements, which include winning a gold medal at the 2006 World Equestrian Games. But she has missed out on two Olympics because of injuries to her previous horse Toytown. After her success on at the weekend, she said: "Hopefully, selectors will see that High Kingdom has improved and might get even better. "Everyone is fighting to get on the team, especially with the Olympics being on home ground.
"It was probably good to have a bit of pressure on here, and to see if we could come up with the goods. "High Kingdom has improved loads this year, and it has been great to have had the opportunity to really show to everyone what he can do."