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Zara Tindall's rule-breaking wedding guest outfit needs to be seen to be believed

The wife of Mike Tindall had a head-turning style moment when she was 17


Zara Tindall wears a lace hat , pearl earrings and cowl-neck green dress
Georgia Brown
Senior Lifestyle & Fashion Writer
On 14 June 2023
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Zara Tindall has had her fair share of noteworthy style moments in the royal spotlight. From her bold and beautiful Royal Ascot ensembles to her Cinderella-blue Laura Green dress for King Charles' coronation, the 45-year-old royal is no stranger to sartorial success.

While the royal's immaculate style has changed through the years, the Princess Royal's daughter served up several fun looks and royal rule-breaking outfits during her teenage years we hope she recreates one day. 

WATCH: Zara Tindall's fun and fabulous racing fashion

Rewind to 1998, when Zara attended the wedding of Santa Palmer-Tomkinson and Simon Sebag-Montefiore. The then-17-year-old royal was photographed exiting a car outside the entrance of The Liberal Jewish Synagogue in St John's Wood, London.

Zara opted for a chic pinstripe mini-skirt and matching tailored blazer, both in a dark ebony hue. The royal slipped into square-toed black mules and accessorised with a black boater hat adorned with swathes of black fabric. 

Zara Tindall (née Phillips) stepped out the car in a pinstripe mini skirt and blazer© Getty
Zara Tindall (née Phillips) stepped out the car in a pinstripe mini skirt and blazer

Rocking a popular nineties jewellery trend, Zara wore a delicate beaded choker to elevate her wedding guest getup, opting for minimal makeup and neatly blow-dried hair. 

While not forbidden, it is not usually custom for royals to wear black outside of an official period of mourning - and certainly not to a wedding. 

Zara Tindall at the wedding of Santa Palmer-Tomkinson And Simon Sebag-Montefiore © Getty
Zara at the wedding of Santa Palmer-Tomkinson And Simon Sebag-Montefiore

As per royal style etiquette, skirts should be no shorter than four inches above the knee, but Zara appeared to turn a blind eye to that rule with her trendy pinstripe mini skirt!

Zara Tindall wears a black suit to a wedding© Getty
Prince Harry and King Charles were also present at the 1998 wedding

It's not the first time Zara's style file shows her rebellious side. When the mother-of-three was a bridesmaid for her brother Peter Phillips in 2008, Zara looked radiant in a strapless satin number designed by American fashion designer Vera Wang. 

zara tindall shows off the back of her bridesmaid dress© Getty
Zara wore a strapless bridesmaid dress to her brother's wedding

Complete with elegant bow detailing and a ruched bodice, the statement sage-green gown was a trailblazing change for royal bridesmaids. 

Zara Tindall holds up her skirt as she stands beside Queen Elizabeth II© Getty
Royal bridesmaids traditionally wear white

Though not an official royal rule, it's believed that royal bridesmaids were to dress in white due to a historical belief that white deterred evil spirits. A bride would dress her bridesmaids wearing white in order to confuse any such spirits, safely disguising the bride among the bridal party.

KEEP READING: Why do royal bridesmaids wear white?

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