Zara PhillipsZara Phillips has reportedly put back her engagement plans to concentrate on her career at the urging of her father, Captain Mark Phillips.

Zara, the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II and 11th in line to the throne, is set to compete in equestrian events in the Olympics in Beijing next year and Captain Phillips believes her training is more currently important that her relationship with rugby playing boyfriend Mike Tindall.

A source told the Daily Mail that the couple got secretly engaged earlier this year and were planning to make an official announcement in August but now that plan has been abandoned: “After extensive talks with her father, Zara has decided to concentrate on training for the Beijing Olympics next year.”

“She is focusing all her efforts on bringing home the gold medal. As far as her father is concerned, her career is the most important thing.

“Zara and her dad have a turbulent relationship, but the one thing she always respects is her father’s advice when it comes to her career.”


But it’s not just about her adding the Olympic medal to her European and World Champion titles: “While [her mother, Princess Anne] is really fond of Mike, Zara’s father has his reservations. He’s not convinced it’s a perfect match and he has told Zara to hold off making anything official and concentrate instead on her sport.”

“There is a degree of uncertainty on Mark’s behalf about Mike. He finds his attitude a little too laid-back and a couple of years ago demanded that Zara rethink her choice of suitor.”

Mike however won’t be dissuaded by the delay: “Mike has said Zara is the love of his life and has hinted strongly that he wants to marry her after the Olympics.”

“He says they already feel like a married couple and rushing it through just for the piece of paper doesn’t seem worth it. They want it to be right.”