As I write, the Queen’s graddaughter Zara Phillips is close to becoming World Champion Three-Day Eventer at the World Equestrian Games in Germany.

Zara, already European Champion, is in the lead with only the showjumping event to follow. A clear round would give her the title outright, but any faults might hand it to German, Bettina Hoy, poised right behind her.

Zara powered from fifth to first place with a brilliant clear round in the cross-country section yesterday.

Despite her close friend Sherelle Duke’s death at the Brockenhurst Horse Trials last Sunday, Zara showed great courage in the testing second-day event, outclassing the rest of the field.

Royal Anecdotes and all of England wish plucky Zara the best of British luck.

Coming up : The result.