Despite knocking down a fence, Phillips’ performance was praised and the Queen’s granddaughter received an ecstatic reaction from spectators as she rode with the rest of the GB team in Greenwich Park today.
Phillips was third up for the British equestrian eventing team, competing on a showjumping course that included traditional British landmarks including a miniature Nelson’s column.
The 31-year-old began her Olympic campaign in the dressage earlier this week, followed yesterday by a flawless cross country run.
Today, Phillips was cheered on by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry but failed to clear all hurdles, bringing down a fence in the Greenwich stadium.
Zara refused to blame her horse, High Kingdom, saying: “I made the mistake, it was my fault”.
At the start of events today, only two fences separated Britain and Germany, meaning that Zara and her GB team mates had a good chance of becoming the first British riders for 40 years to win gold in the event.
Despite failing to win the gold, the team was jubilant to take home silver after Tina Cook’s final ride saw Britain just one point behind the triumphant Germans.