British royals Zara and Mike Tindall to visit South Australia and attend VALO Adelaide 500
The Queen’s granddaughter and her rugby-star husband are set to provide a regal connection for this week’s big race.
Lifestyle
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Regal revheads Zara and Mike Tindall will add a touch of royalty to this week’s VALO Adelaide 500.
The late Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter and her husband are heading to South Australia for a four-day visit starting on Wednesday.
Mike, a former England rugby star, is currently Down Under filming the latest season of the UK reality show, I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!, with Zara flying out to join him in Australia early this week.
It’s understood the royal couple were invited to the V8 race through connections with the SA Motorsport Board.
The Tindalls will soak up the sights and sounds of the Supercars finale, attending together on Thursday and Saturday, while Zara, 41, will be trackside on her own on Sunday.
The pair are also expected to experience a hot lap around the city street circuit.
Racing fan Zara, who will be making her first visit to SA, said motorsport and Australia are “dear to my heart and inextricably linked”.
“I grew up going to F1 (races) with Jackie and Helen Stewart. Helen is my godmother, so F1 was definitely in the family,” said Zara, who is also a former Olympic and world equestrian champion.
“Then, when I came to Australia for my gap year in 1999, I worked with SEL, a sports and talent management agency who were the driving force behind V8 Supercars.
“Coming back for the Adelaide 500 brings it full circle and I can’t wait to get amongst all the action – on and off the track.”
After spending plenty of time in the Australian jungle on I’m a Celeb, Mike, 44, said he’s looking forward to getting “back in civilisation and right in the thick of the action at the Adelaide 500”.
But the trip to SA is not just about motor racing. The couple will also spend some time travelling around the state, with plans to visit Port Willunga and the Adelaide Hills during their stay.
“As a sportsman, I’ll be keenly watching the intense rivalry on the track and, off track, want to get amongst the best South Australia has to offer,” Mike said.
The daughter of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, Zara has three children with the former English rugby captain, daughters Mia Grace, 8, and Lena Elizabeth, 4, and Lucas, 1.
Zara and Mike met in Australia during the 2003 Rugby World Cup. They were engaged in 2010 and married in Edinburgh in 2011.