Jump directly to the content

ZARA Tindall might be a born-and-bred royal, but she was denied a wedding gift that Princess Kate received. 

The 42-year-old married her rugby player husband, Mike Tindall, in July 2011 - just three months after Kate Middleton and Prince William tied the knot. 

Princess Kate received a wedding gift that Zara Tindall was denied
2
Princess Kate received a wedding gift that Zara Tindall was deniedCredit: AFP or licensors
The daughter of Princess Anne turns 43 on Wednesday May 15
2
The daughter of Princess Anne turns 43 on Wednesday May 15Credit: Getty

The couple married at Canongate Kirk on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, with Zara wearing a simple dress designed by Stewart Parvin, one of the Queen's favourite couturiers.

By comparison, 42-year-old Kate’s dress was designed by Alexander McQueen’s creative director, Sarah Burton.

It reportedly cost £250,000, making it one of the most expensive wedding dresses ever made. 

But it wasn't just a difference in grandeur that separated Zara and Kate’s weddings. 

read more on the royal family

There was a huge difference between the wedding honours each couple received from the Queen.

In keeping with royal tradition, Prince William, 41, became the Duke of Cambridge on his wedding day, as instructed by his grandmother. 

This meant that when he tied the knot with Kate (now the Prince and Princess of Wales), she automatically became the Duchess of Cambridge.

However, royal custom prevented Zara from receiving a title on her wedding day.

It is only sons and grandsons of the presiding monarch that traditionally receive peerages when they marry.

The reason why British princesses are not afforded this benefit dates back to a long time ago. 

Back in the day, princesses were nearly always married off into foreign royal families.

This was to help secure ties with other European monarchs and would give Britain a political advantage when princesses assumed the titles of their new foreign husbands.

This custom stopped around World War I.

TO TITLE OR TO NOT

Unlike her royal cousins, Zara did not grow up with a title.

Princess Anne, 73, rejected royal titles for her children as she wanted them to have normal upbringings. 

The royal line of succession

KING Charles's oldest son is first in line to the throne.

Here's how the line of succession stacks up as of April 2024.

1. The Prince of Wales

2. Prince George of Wales

3. Princess Charlotte of Wales

4. Prince Louis of Wales

5. The Duke of Sussex

6. Prince Archie of Sussex

7. Princess Lilibet of Sussex

8. The Duke of York

9. Princess Beatrice, Mrs. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

10. Miss Sienna Mapelli Mozzi

11. Princess Eugenie, Mrs. Jack Brooksbank

12. Master August Brooksbank

13. Master Ernest Brooksbank

14. The Duke of Edinburgh

15. Earl of Wessex

16. The Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor

17. The Princess Royal

18. Mr. Peter Phillips

19. Miss Savannah Phillips

20. Miss Isla Phillips

She also shares son Peter Philips, a British businessman, with her first husband, Captain Mark Phillips.

Zara and Mike have three children together: Mia, 10, Lena, five, and Lucas, three. 

READ MORE SUN STORIES

The couple are widely regarded as the most down-to-earth members of the Royal Family, with Mike even appearing on ITV’s I’m A Celeb

Mum-of-three Zara is set to turn 43-years-old on Wednesday.

Topics