Zara Tindall followed her cousin Prince William to Saudi Arabia for ‘the richest horse race ever held’ as she celebrated Valentine’s Day solo this year.

The jet-setting royal, 44, who flew to the Middle Eastern nation after returning from the US, was photographed at the Saudi Cup in Riyadh on February 14.

Zara attended the ultra-exclusive race in her role as patron of Retraining of Racehorses, a British charity that promotes the welfare of retired horses.

In a photo shared on X, the mother-of-three posed alongside the charity’s managing director, David Catlow, and David Howden of Cornbury House.

The King’s niece dazzled in a floral eyelet dress with a tie-waist detail from Australian label Zimmermann, which she previously wore to the Monaco F1 Grand Prix in 2023.

She paired the midi frock with a stunning pink and burgundy headpiece from Camilla Rose Millinery, worth nearly £500, and rose quartz earrings from London-based Hector Lion Jewellery.

Zara finished her look with a pair of blush suede pumps from Emmy London, the footwear brand that is also a favourite of the Princess of Wales.

She kept her makeup soft and dewy to complement the romantic ensemble for her solo engagement on Valentine’s Day.

Zara, who flew to the Middle Eastern nation after returning from the US, was photographed at the Saudi Cup in Riyadh on February 14

Meanwhile, Zara’s former rugby ace husband Mike is back in the UK for the Six Nations Championship after the couple spent some quality time together in Australia before jetting off to the United States at the start of the year. 

Zara’s visit to Saudi Arabia comes days after the future King completed his three-day royal tour of the country, where he also met the Saudi ruler, Crown Prince Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. 

The visit was intended to strengthen the UK’s ties with one of its key Middle East allies, but was somewhat overshadowed by the release of the Epstein files. 

William, 43, touched down in Riyadh hours after he and his wife Kate expressed their concern amid the revelations surrounding his disgraced uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. 

A Kensington Palace spokesperson said they were ‘deeply concerned by the continued revelations’, and ‘their thoughts remain focused on the victims’.

Ahead of her trip to Riyadh, Zara and Mike enjoyed a wild night out in Texas as they rode a mechanical bull during a visit to the ‘world’s largest honky tonk’. 

A photo shared by singer John Osborne on Instagram showed the Tindalls partying at Billy Bob’s Texas – a famous country music club – in Fort Worth. 

In a departure from her royal style, Zara donned a casual outfit, including a classic white T-shirt, dark denim jeans and a black cowboy hat, that screamed ‘countrycore’. 

Meanwhile, Mike was also in the stands at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, as he attended the Super Bowl on February 8. 

Their getaway comes after the Tindalls made their annual trip to Australia for the polo and showjumping Magic Millions event.

Prince William visited the Unesco World Heritage site At-Turaif Diriyah with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud (pictured) during his three-day royal tour 

Prince William seen arriving at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 9 

Last month, the couple – who live on Princess Anne’s Gatcombe estate – were pictured enjoying a relaxing stroll along the Gold Coast’s Broadbeach.

Earlier this month, Zara unveiled her latest collaboration with Fairfax & Favour, the countryside-inspired lifestyle brand close to her heart. 

Starring in a ‘curated edit’ posted on Instagram, Zara modelled a variety of outfits including slim jeans and white shirts as well as the brand’s luxury wax jackets, trench coats and heeled leather boots.

In a voiceover alongside the sunny video, Zara explained why she has partnered with the brand and what everyday essentials she can’t live without.

‘For me, the first thing I look for in a quality product is really good craftsmanship but should also look and feel great,’ she shared.

‘That balance of working for what I need and being practical is what makes something stand out and why it becomes part of my day-to-day.’

She also shared how that the brand’s products are linked to a passion close to her heart – showjumping and horse riding – confessing that Fairfax & Favor’s boots are perfect for her equestrian activities.

She wrote: ‘The great thing about good quality leather: it gets better as it ages. It moulds to you and becomes more comfortable.

‘It’s the same with boots – when people wear them in, they actually look better and perform better. They get used, they get the weather, they’re pushed to the limit. And that really shows what an incredible product leather is.’

For the promotion, Zara donned Fairfax and Favor’s £425 dark khaki waxed coat, Regina mahogany Leather heeled boots for £475 and the brand’s bestselling Blenheim tan leather mini handbag for £345.

It comes after royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams commented on the possibility of Zara taking on a greater role within The Firm, amid questions over Andrew’s daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s future after the Epstein scandal.  

Although they are well-loved by royal fans, Mike and Zara are unlikely to join the ranks of senior royals as their lives as non-working members are too lucrative to quit, Mr Fitzwilliams said.   

Using her unique position of being a part of the royal family but not having a title to maximum advantage, Zara also has longstanding associations with luxury brands such as Rolex, Musto and Land Rover.

But it’s not only brand partnerships that Zara and her rugby ace husband would have to abandon if they were to become senior working royals (since the likes of the Prince and Princess of Wales are not permitted to earn money through paid sponsorships).

Zara, 44, recently unveiled a new collaboration with countryside-inspired lifestyle company Fairfax & Favor, known for their leather goods and essentials including boots, coats and bags

Indeed, the couple would have to follow the will of the royal calendar, meaning their annual trip to Australia, would likely become more infrequent.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mr Fitzwilliams said: ‘They have a lucrative lifestyle, they are popular and they have unconventional personal profiles.

‘There is no chance that they would ever give this up for a more staid, regimented existence where they were the centre of media attention as working royals when they didn’t want it!’

The expert suggests that while fans of the family would love the Tindalls to be working royals, they shouldn’t hold out hopes of it happening anytime soon.

He explains: ‘They would give the institution a lively, contemporary feel and everyone knows they are talented sporting figures. [But they have] a good life and they seem to be loving it!

‘Zara is celebrating another endorsement deal in Australia with her new jewellery collection linked with an Australian designer brand.

‘They both enjoy their freedom and both are fortunate enough to have favourable public images. They are both popular and wealthy.

‘They are not working royals but are able to enjoy the benefits of being members of the royal family and that makes them high profile. This makes them ideal for endorsing brands and this has reportedly made them a great deal of money.’