Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips marries rugby star

Jul 30, 2011, 16:05 GMT

Edinburgh - Zara Philips, a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, married England rugby player Mike Tindall in Edinburgh in a private ceremony Saturday, as hundreds of onlookers gathered in the Scottish capital.

The simple ceremony at Canongate Kirk - a church on Edingburgh's Royal Mile - was reserved for family and friends. Afterwards, the couple emerged arm in arm and shared a kiss, before walking onto the Mile to applause and cheers.

The bride wore a silk dress by Edinburgh designer Stewart Parvin, who is also a dressmaker to the queen, and shoes by Jimmy Choo.

Phillips, 30, is keeping her maiden name rather than following tradition by adopting Tindall's surname. She is a keen horsewoman and won individual gold at the World Equestrian Games in Germany in 2006 - a title her mother, Princess Anne, won in 1971.

The couple got engaged in December, after they had been together for seven years.

Guests at the wedding included: the queen and her husband, Prince Philip; Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; and Prince Harry.

Prince William and his wife Kate, who married on April 29, were also among the royal guests, as well as the bride's brother Peter and her uncle, the Duke of York, with his daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

Leading figures in English rugby were also present, including national coach Martin Johnson and his predecessor, Sir Clive Woodward, who led the country's 2003 Rugby World Cup winning team.

During the course of the day, spectators crowded onto Edinburgh's Royal Mile with flags and folding chairs, including around 30 who had camped overnight to secure a good spot to see the newlyweds.

The wedding was expected to boost tourist numbers to Edinburgh, which will soon open its world famous arts festival, on August 12.

The newlyweds were expected to postpone their honeymoon as Phillips is due to compete in horse trials in the coming week, while Tidnall is likely to compete in an England rugby match against Wales on August 6.

Phillips is said to be one of the 'favourite grandchildren' of the queen, who is 84.