Zara Tindall's telling gesture towards aunt Queen Camilla caught on camera during rare joint outing

Zara Tindall and Queen Camilla shared a warm greeting during a rare joint outing at the races over the weekend.

Princess Anne's daughter, 45, greeted her aunt with a kiss on the cheek and a friendly embrace at the Ascot racecourse in Berkshire on Saturday for British Champions Day. 

Both royals had perfected race day style, with Zara wearing a Sarah Cant bow-embellished felt hat, alongside a Fairfax and Favor wool blazer – adding black nail polish for a seasonal look.

Camilla, 79, wore a bespoke bright blue button-down coat dress from Fiona Clare and a navy wide-brimmed hat from Philip Treacy, alongside her go-to Minoru horseshoe pin. 

The Queen hugged and chatted with Zara throughout the afternoon, later joining her niece in the royal box, alongside her ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles. 

The two were seen sharing a laugh as they came face to face between the races, appearing deep in conversation.

Zara was also joined by her husband, Mike Tindall, who celebrated his 48th birthday on Sunday – so no doubt Queen Camilla took the opportunity to wish him happy returns for the day.

Zara Tindall and Queen Camilla's rarely seen bond

It's rare that Zara and Camilla attend outings together, but they always seem to get along very well and have much in common.

Both share a passion for horses and attend racing events throughout the year, while Zara is an accomplished horse rider herself, having won a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics.

Meanwhile, Camilla and her husband King Charles have taken on the late Queen Elizabeth's role as racing's most high-profile supporters.

They have continued to race the late Queen’s stable of horses and have become enthusiastic and passionate horse owners.

The Queen’s choice for best turned-out horse at a prestigious event at Ascot went on to win one of the races at the Berkshire venue.

Camilla praised Talk Of New York before the animal clinched the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes victory at the British Champions Day.

Zara is also known to be close to her uncle, King Charles, often greeting him with a kiss on the cheek at formal events.

Camilla's day out at the races

Saffie Osborne, who last month became the first woman to ride the winner of a British Classic, said it was a "real honour" to meet the Queen.

"It’s amazing to have her here," she said. "It’s quite clear how much she loves British racing, and this is one of the best days’ racing in the world, so to have her support and for her to be here is a real honour for all of us.

"On a personal note, I think my granny will be over the moon that I’ve met her. She loves the royal family, as do we all."

Camilla also met 14-year-old Camilla Froggatt, the winner of the pony race.

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.