Oh, Mia, you are a cheeky little thing!
HER mother is a star of the equestrian world – but yesterday it was little Mia Tindall who stole the show with her own brand of horsing around.
The three-year- old was supposed to be watching her mother Zara Phillips compete in the prestigious Burghley Horse Trials.
But Mia, the Queen’s great-granddaughter, was up to her mischievous best, at one point even cheekily lifting up the tails of Zara’s riding jacket as she tried to get her attention.
She was also seen running around the stands as Zara rode her horse High Kingdom in the dressage event, as well as frantically jumping up and down, and giggling at an approach from a friendly dog.
Later, as her 36-year- old mother held her in her arms as she was interviewed for television, Mia tried to take over by talking into the fluffy microphone and giving it a tap.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, at one point the day’s exertions appeared to have taken their toll, with Mia nodding off on the lap of her father, former England rugby player Mike Tindall.
But later she was all smiles when she got to ride in a golf buggy alongside her parents at the event in Lincolnshire.
The boisterous youngster had her blonde hair loose and was wearing a blue top with the slogan ‘Good Days Ahead’ and grey leggings with pink and gold stripes.
This year’s Burghley Horse Trials began yesterday and run until tomorrow. First held at Burghley House in 1961, they have become a major international equestrian and social event, with extensive shopping avenues springing up in the grounds.
Zara, who won a silver medal in the team eventing at the 2012 London Olympics, had her best Burghley result in 2003 on her horse Toytown when she finished second.
It’s been a busy week for Princess Anne’s daughter, who spent Bank Holiday Monday competing at the Wellington Horse Trials in Hook, Hampshire.
‘Nodding off in dad’s lap’