Zara Phillips, looking absolutely stunning (and it’s not often I say that), collected her well-deserved MBE (Member of the British Empire) from the Queen today.

Zara Phillips admiring her MBE

Zara is only the third rider in equestrian history to hold both World and European titles for three-day eventing at the same time.

The occasion was not recorded for public consumption, but we can tell you that Zara executed a deep curtsey as she approached her grandmother, the Queen.

In the front row were her mother, Princess Anne, her rugger man boyfriend, Mike Tindall, her brother, Peter Phillips, and his fiancee, Autumn Kelly.

Another recipient of the award, Dorothy Petticrew, said : “She was showing us how to curtsey and making us all feel relaxed. As we were waiting to go up, she said ‘Oh, why does my mother have to be sitting there?’. Princess Anne kept looking for her coming and peering to see her. It was lovely seeing the mother’s pride. Zara was totally relaxed. She said ‘I’m coming in military style today and it’s very comfortable’.”

Zara and Mike Tindall at Buckingham Palace today

Miss Petticrew added : “She said she would have been happy to receive her award privately but her family wanted her to do it publicly and said ‘Let’s do this right’.”

Zara’s stepfather, Tim Laurence, a Vice Admiral in the Royal Navy, was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) at the same ceremony.

A good day for the Royal Family, with talented members getting their just rewards.