Product Description

Zara Phillips' story is definitely not rags-to-riches. Instead it is a fascinating tale of determination, the search for independence and the will to succeed on her own merit. As the only daughter of Princess Anne and given the reputation as a rebel Royal for her tongue-piercing, sense of style and controversial love life, Zara has long been the subject of public attention. But while her Royal lineage has ensured she is never far from the public eye, her success as a sportswoman received little attention until she was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2006 after winning the Gold Medal at the equestrian World Championships. This book looks beyond the public image to reveal the real Zara. It charts her childhood, including her parents' divorce and her mother's subsequent remarriage, her school years and her relationships with other members of the Royal family, including Prince William, as well as her personal life and her rise to the top of her chosen sport. With original anecdotes from those who really know Zara, quotes from contemporaries in the equestrian world and comments from fashion experts, this book is a revealing look at life as a young royal and champion sportswoman.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #65826 in Books
• Published on: 2007-08-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Daily Mail
'Give first prize to this jewel in the royal crown ... brimming over with stories'

Horse & Rider
'Re-live the highs and lows of Zara's private life and career in this absorbing biography that's both humorous and inspiring'

From the Inside Flap
As the only daughter of Princess Anne and granddaughter of the Queen, Zara Phillips was born into a life of wealth and privilege. While her royal lineage has ensured she is never far from the public eye, her determination to succeed as a sportswoman received little attention until she was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2006. It turns out that Zara’s story is about much more than her royal background. It is also a fascinating tale of determination, the search for independence and the will to succeed on one’s own merits.
Zara is one of the only members of the royal family to be christened with a name other than Windsor, and is one of the only grandchildren of the monarch not to have a royal title. From birth she has shown an independent streak that saw her branded as a ‘royal rebel’ while still in her teens. Her tongue piercing, revealing clothes, live-in boyfriends and love of partying all captured the public’s attention. Then in 2005 Zara won the equestrian individual European eventing title; in 2006, she became the World Champion in eventing; and in 2007 she was awarded an MBE for services to the sport. Her acceptance of sponsorship money and appearance in advertisements continue to raise eyebrows, and her royal lineage and the perceived exclusivity of the sport in which she is a champion have both attracted the ire of some commentators. But, despite this, it seems that Zara is at last achieving recognition for her own success.
Zara Phillips – World Champion tells the whole story. It charts Zara’s life from her early years at home to her parents’ divorce and her mother’s subsequent remarriage, her school days and her relationships with other members of the royal family, her sometimes-controversial behaviour and her emergence as one of the pre-eminent sportswomen of her generation. Featuring anecdotes from those who are close to Zara and quotes from contemporaries in the equestrian world, this book is a revealing look at life as a young royal and World Champion.

Customer Reviews

A Revealing Portrait - NOT
Do not be misled by the title of this book, revealing about the subject, Miss Phillips, it is not. Tedious to say the least. If you want a book about Royal etiquette and Court procedures this could be the one for you, if you require an equestrian book relating to Zara and her wonderful horses forget it, save your money.

I gave it 1 star as this system demands something, given the option I would not even give it that.

a disgrace for the author - a shame with regards to the subject - a waste for the readers
Brian Hoey is a well-known author on British royalty and I like a lot his books on Lord Snowdon or the Princess Royal, but this book on Zara Phillips is really a disgrace. What where he thinking? Properly he was not at all. Fellow reviewers have commented on various aspects of it and I fully share their comments. This is definitely not a book that should take space in your library, not even as a paperback.

Deeply irritating
If you like your biography in the gushing style of OK meets Majesty magazine then you'll love this (given the authors other books this is probably all he does.) If you are at all interested in three day eventing you will just get more and more annoyed at the total lack of real knowledge (apparently 4* dressage is made terribly difficult by having to wear top hats!) The book is very repetitive, badly written and quite frankly I don't think I can be bothered to finish it. A shame really because the subject is an accomplished sportswoman who deserves a much better treatment than this.