Zara Tindall lifts lid on Anne's secrets during royal mother's Edinburgh outing

Princess Anne carried out a military engagement in Edinburgh on Sunday.

The Princess Royal, who serves as Deputy Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Regiment of Scotland, attended the laying-up ceremony of the colours of the 1st Battalion, known as 1 SCOTS, at Canongate Kirk in the Scottish capital.

The solemn occasion saw the regiment's colours formally laid up, marking a significant moment in its military traditions.

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Away from the ceremony, attention also turned to a more personal side of the Princess Royal, after her daughter Zara spoke candidly about the contrasting parenting styles of her parents.

The Olympic equestrian, who shares three children with her husband, Mike Tindall, described her mother as a relaxed presence during her childhood, explaining that Anne gave her the freedom to find her own way.

“Mum's very relaxed... She's like, 'Just, you know, just do what you do,'” Zara said.

Her recollection of her father, Captain Mark Phillips, was rather different. 

Describing him as a demanding coach, Zara explained that praise was not something she received particularly often.

“My father was quite critical.

Very rarely you would get a, 'Yeah, that was good.' He was a tough coach,” she revealed.

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Zara also told that she has tried to take a different approach with her own children, admitting: “I'm trying not to be quite that bad with my own kids.”