The King's niece won gold in Aachen at the World Equestrian Games in 2006

Zara Tindall arrived in Germany for the 2026 FEI World Championships this evening, where she stunned in all black.

The FEI World Championships are a global equestrian event where world titles are contested in dressage, eventing, driving, para-dressage, show jumping, and vaulting, held at Allianz Park.

The King's niece, 45, stepped out in Aachen sporting a black sleeveless top, tortoiseshell rectangular sunglasses and a beaming smile on her face.

The Princess Royal's daughter, who does not carry out official royal duties, is expected to play a prominent role in proceedings at equestrian sport's flagship global competition.

Zara followed in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother, the late Queen, in pursuing a passion in equestrianism, and carved out an impressive career for herself.

The royal, who is married to former rugby star Mike Tindall, won team silver at the 2012 London Olympics and other European eventing championship titles. She was also named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2006.

Her return to Aachen this evening marks a significant personal milestone for Zara, some 20 years on from when she claimed individual eventing gold riding Toytown at the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

Zara was joined at the event this evening by Queen Mary of Denmark, who attended donning an elegant brown polka-dot dress paired with high heels and dangling earrings.

Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo and the sister of King Felipe VI of Spain, attended as a guest of honour, wearing a flower midi dress with a white blazer over the top and a navy blue fedora.

The elder daughter of Spain's former King Juan Carlos has long-standing ties to the sport, having trained and competed at national and international level throughout her career as a rider. She has previously represented Spain at equestrian events in Aachen.

Princess Amalia of the Netherlands, heir to the Dutch throne, arrived at the event earlier today.

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She will formally signal the start of the championships, a solo engagement undertaken without her parents, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima.

The eldest daughter of the Dutch King and Queen, 22, has taken on an increasing number of public duties since reaching adulthood.

Three royal stables, representing the Netherlands, Denmark and Great Britain, will parade their historic carriages during the ceremony, each serving as a symbol of its respective dynasty.

The evening's programme, themed "Welcome Home," will feature equestrian displays involving more than 250 horses, alongside live music, dance and an ambitious audiovisual production.

An innovative parade of nations is also planned, with competing riders passing through the stands to engage directly with spectators.

The ceremony has been designed to weave together sport, tradition and culture, with organisers billing it as a celebration of the deep ties between Europe's royal houses and the equestrian world. It is expected to produce some of the most striking royal imagery of the year.