Zara Tindall debuts witchy black nails amid private family celebrations

Zara Tindall made a stylish appearance at the Ascot racecourse in Berkshire on Saturday, enjoying all the action from the Royal Box ahead of her husband Mike Tindall's 48th birthday.

The 45-year-old royal was impeccably dressed for British Champions Day, donning a smart grey tweed jacket layered over a white pussybow blouse. 

The bronzed beauty completed her racegoing attire with a fabulous grey hat adorned with an oversized velvet bow. 

She wore her single-breasted blazer belted at the waist and teamed the look with a brown leather skirt and a pair of slouchy suede boots.

She wore her blonde hair swept back into a chic chignon with loose tendrils framing her face, and donned diamond-shaped earrings that added a touch of sparkle to her preppy ensemble.

Keen equestrian Zara was in her element as she watched all the action from the sidelines before entering the parade ring to help hand out trophies.

A new black manicure for Zara Tindall

We couldn't help but notice Zara's eye-catching black manicure; a chic modern look that's perfect for spooky season. 

As a non-working royal, the mother-of-three isn’t bound to the same beauty rules as the likes of Queen Camilla and Princess Catherine when it comes to her nail art.

Royal protocol traditionally prefers neat, natural-looking nails. Bright or dark polish (like red, black, or neon) was considered unseemly for official working royal engagements since neutral shades won't clash with outfit changes or distract from official handshakes.

The late Queen Elizabeth II famously only ever wore the soft, muted pink shade 'Ballet Slippers' by Essie, but royals have been modernising the manicure rules in recent years. 

The Princess of Wales, for instance, usually keeps her nails either bare or coated in a nude polish, but has been known to mix things up, memorably debuting a deep burgundy shade for an Easter Sunday service.

Joining forces with Queen Camilla

Zara was joined by Queen Camilla to celebrate British Champions Day. King Charles' wife opted for a bright blue, button-down coat dress and a navy wide-brimmed hat.

 Her go-to horseshoe pin was a fitting nod to the occasion. She was spotted sharing a laugh with Zara as the pair came face-to-face in between the races. 

The annual event, established in 2011, serves as an end-of-season finale for European flat horse racing and brings together top horses, jockeys, and trainers to compete across various distances. 

It is also the biggest single raceday on the British horse racing calendar, offering millions of pounds in prize money.

Family celebrations for the Tindalls this weekend

Zara's bold nails perhaps hint at her choice of attire for her special family celebrations this weekend. The royal will be celebrating in style on the Gatcombe Park estate as her husband Mike turns 48 tomorrow.

The down-to-earth couple will no doubt be spending plenty of quality time with their young children Mia, 12, Lena, eight, and Lucas, five, and her mother Princess Anne. 

Mike isn't known for splashy birthday celebrations, instead typically choosing to mark the occasion with his loved ones at their multigenerational home in Gloucestershire.

He also often ties his birthday weekend into major sporting events or weekend getaways with his wife. His 46th birthday, for example, saw the couple travele to Barcelona to support Ben Ainslie’s INEOS Britannia team in the America's Cup