Zara Tindall says Queen Elizabeth II’s death has left a ‘hole’ in her life as she praises her grandmother’s ‘huge influence’: ‘All of us are so lucky to have had her for so long’

Zara Tindall has opened up about missing her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and said she had a “huge influence” on her life.

The 42-year-old royal, Princess Anne’s daughter, spoke to Australian Women’s Weekly magazine about her connection to the late queen, who died in September 2022 aged 96.

Zara said: “When you have someone who has such a huge impact on your life (leaves a hole)… we’re all so lucky to have had her for so long.”

The mother of three, a professional equestrian, also spoke about the special bond she shared with her late grandmother over horses.

She said: “She was very aware of what was going on in my career as I was growing up, you got to see her real passion and love for horses and that side of her.”

Zara Tindall has spoken of missing her grandmother Queen Elizabeth II (pictured together at Ascot in 2007) and said she had a “huge influence” on her life.

Queen Elizabeth was passionate about horse racing and passed on her love of this sport to her only daughter Anna, and later to her eldest granddaughter Zara.

Zara began her professional equestrian career in 2003, she regularly competes in equestrian competitions and has previously won a number of Olympic and championship medals.

In 2006, she was named Sports Personality of the Year after winning the World Eventing Championships in Aachen, Germany.

The late monarch’s love of horses and racing sparked a huge growth in equestrian sport in Britain, and she won respect as a breeder when her horse finished second in the Epsom Derby.

She became a patron of many horse organizations, including the British Horse Society, the Fell Pony Society and the Highland Pony Society.

Zara also said she was grateful that her children Mia, nine, Lena, five, and son Lucas, two, whom she shares with husband Mike Tindall, met their great-grandmother.

She said: “The fact that our children, her great-grandchildren, also had such an influence was incredible. It was a very precious time and we are very grateful for it.”

The 42-year-old royal (pictured), daughter of Princess Anne, spoke to The Australian Women’s Weekly about her connection to the late queen.

Although she said her youngest Lucas doesn’t remember his great-grandmother, he has photos of her.

The busy mother of three also opened up about “mummy guilt”, saying it’s easy to feel guilty about not doing enough.

However, she admitted that she has learned to live with it because she knows it will “never go away.”

It comes after Zara looked effortlessly chic last week when she joined her cousin Princess Eugenie at her anti-slavery charity’s first winter gala.

The royal was a picture of sophistication in a demure dress that matched Eugenie’s glamor.

Zara looked sensational in a black shirtdress with a tie belt and statement sleeves, with her blonde locks styled in an updo at Battersea Arts Centre.

Zara, a professional equestrian, also spoke about the special connection she shared with horses with her late grandmother (pictured at Royal Ascot in 2019).

Queen Elizabeth II greets her granddaughter Zara at a reception at Buckingham Palace in 2006.

She was also spotted alongside Theresa May, Julia de Boinville and Natalie Pinkham at the swanky party.

Eugenie co-founded the Anti-Slavery Collective with her friend Julia in 2017.

Guests at the glittering event included singer Ed Sheeran, James Blunt and even Prince Harry’s ex-girlfriend Cressida Bonas.

Speaking ahead of the event at Battersea Arts Centre, Eugenie, 33, praised Ed Sheeran for his involvement, saying: “It’s the craziest thing. Ed is a game changer and a generational artist so I am completely speechless that he is coming.

“He’s also one of the nicest people, so I’m truly honored and very grateful that he’s here to help us with the mission of the Anti-Slavery Collective.”