Suits her! Zara Tindall is chic in sharp tailoring for a day at the races with her close confidante, Dolly Maude

Storm Boelo might have left the Cheltenham racegoers windswept and rain-drenched on Saturday, but Zara Tindall brought a ray of regal elegance to proceedings as she stopped by the William Hill Showcase Meeting with her close friend Dolly Maude.

As is to be expected, Zara put on an optimal display of race-day dressing, donning a whole host of her favourite designers for the day out. Veronica Beard was the order of the day, with the Olympic equestrian wearing a blue houndstooth trouser suit from the brand, which she paired with a plum-coloured roll-neck jumper from Karen Miullen and a matching Juliette Botterill percher hat.

Zara carried a new bag from Fairfax & Favor, dubbed ‘Blenheim’ in a fitting nod to one of her favourite Horse Trials – as well as a pair of Chiswick ankle boots in navy. Princess Anne’s daughter is known for her love of the country-set favourite designer, where she has long served as an ambassador. Speaking to Tatler at the launch of her jacket collaboration with the designer, she said that her favourite item is ‘probably the long puffs jackets, [because] I can just shove them over my leggings for the school run.’

There was another new addition to Zara’s ensemble, with the royal completing her look with a pair of ‘Fire Pearl Coin’ earrings from Hector Lion. The bright, bold gems were the perfect choice for the drizzly day at the races, with their description noting: ‘On rainy days in Britain, it’s nice to be reminded of the South of France. Our croissant earrings do just that.’

And Zara Tindall was in great company as she stepped out under an umbrella with Dolly, long considered her best friend, who became Princess Anne’s lady-in-waiting in 2024. Dolly, who worked as an NHS midwife, helped to deliver Zara’s third child, Lucas Tindall, on the floor of Zara’s bathroom at Gatcombe Park after the plan for the birth went awry back in 2021.

But Dolly’s bond with the King’s niece goes back long before that. (Not for nothing did Zara’s husband, Mike Tindall, joke that the 53-year-old is ‘more important than I am.) Dolly was Zara’s maid-of-honour when the pair tied the knot, and when Zara split from her fiancé, jockey Richard Johnson, in 2003, the pair moved in together – they still live close-by in the Cotswolds.

Having worked as a maternity practitioner in the NHS in Gloucestershire for 13 years, Dolly also did some philanthropic work using her maternity expertise, working in the unit of a hospital in Kambia, Sierra Leone for a month in 2013. At Kambia, she taught staff basic nursing and theatre skills. Before qualifying as a nurse, Dolly studied fashion and Cordon Bleu cookery at Eastbourne College of Food and Fashion, graduating in 1989.

Dolly Maude is known for her love of horses – a passion she shares with Zara and Princess Anne – and is often seen in Ascot’s royal box alongside the Princess Royal. In March 2024, she made her first official appearance as the Princess Royal’s lady-in-waiting, a momentous moment that marked a new phase of her enduring bond with the royal family.

The royal confidant has four children with her husband Chris: Billy, who studied at Swansea University; Nell, who trained at the Central School of Ballet; a keen skier, Ted; and Mary.

Concerning Dolly’s appointment, another friend of Mrs. Maude's told The Telegraph, ‘She’s such a great girl. For the Princess Royal, it’s a perfect fit because of their shared love of dogs and horses. She’s not only extremely close to Zara, she also gets on brilliantly with the Princess. She’s fiercely loyal and discreet. It’s a great match.’