Zara Tindall pays sweet tribute to the Queen during day at Cheltenham Festival

Zara Tindall gave a nod to her grandmother as she wore a stylish houndstooth dress coat to Cheltenham Festival - similar to the one the Queen wore back in 1971.

• Zara donned a black and white houndstooth dress coat designed by Laura Green and teamed it with a deep red fascinator by Juliette Botterill
• The Queen wore a similar coat during a visit to Turkey in 1971 - where she was accompanied by Zara's mother, Princess Anne
• It follows royal news that the Queen has made a change to royal protocol

Zara Tindall may have been raised without a royal title, but it's thought she is one of the Queen's favourite grandchildren. So it's no surprise the 38-year-old chose to pay tribute to her grandmother at the races by following in her fashionable footsteps.

The mum-of-two stepped out at Cheltenham Festival's Ladies' Day looking stunning in a black and white houndstooth dress coat, designed by Laura Green. She teamed the dress with maroon leather gloves and a fascinator designed by Juliette Botterill.

What made Zara's nod to the Queen even more touching is the fact the pair both share a love of horses. With Zara having even competed in Equestrian at the Olympics.

Princess Anne's daughter attended the annual event not only as a keen jockey herself, but as part of her new role as Cheltenham Racecourse Director. A title she was given by the Jockey Club last November.

The equestrian champion will support the Chairman and executive team in the successful running of the racecourse.

Ever since birth, Princess Anne's children Zara and Peter have been afforded a lifestyle very different to their cousins, Prince Harry and Prince William. And a royal insider has said it's allowed Zara to "develop into her own person".

They said, "The difference between Zara and Princes William and Harry are as much as night and day.

"Because she's grown up without the weight and expectation of a title, she's been allowed to develop into her own person. She is without a doubt the most independent, smart and wildly funny member of her generation of the monarchy."

It has also been suggested that Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have seen the way Zara has grown up - distanced from royal life - and are keen to follow in her footsteps as they raise Archie in Canada.

"She's incredibly grateful to Princess Anne for allowing her this freedom," the insider revealed. "You can bet Meghan and Harry have noticed that and taken a leaf out of Anne's book."