Who is Zara Tindall's half sister Felicity Tonkin?

Meet Felicity Tonkin, the lesser-known daughter of Captain Mark Phillips and Heather Tonkin

Zara Tindall and her brother Peter Phillips may be well-known as the grandchildren of the late Queen Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh, but they have another half-sibling who has flown under the radar. Felicity Tonkin, the daughter of Captain Mark Phillips and former art teacher Heather Tonkin, is four years younger than her royal half-sister Zara. Here's all you need to know about her.

A Keen Equestrian and Specialist Vet

Like her older sister, Felicity is a keen equestrian. After studying at Massey University, she went on to work as a specialist vet. She has made headlines for posing nude for the university's Barely There calendar, which raises funds for charity.

A Royal Connection Through Marriage

Felicity is married to accomplished polo player Tristian Wade, who has played in front of the late Queen Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor. The couple, along with their son James, reside in a £1.5 million property in Auckland, New Zealand, where they also keep their horses.

A Complicated Family History

Heather Tonkin, Felicity's mother, met Mark Phillips at a riding clinic in Auckland while he was still married to Princess Anne. Their affair resulted in Felicity's birth, but Mark never fully accepted her as his daughter. Despite this, he secretly paid child support to Heather for many years. In 1991, a court-ordered DNA test confirmed Mark as Felicity's father.

A Heartbroken Daughter

Felicity learned the truth about her father's denial when she was eight years old. The rejection has left her heartbroken, and she has longed for some form of recognition from Mark. Despite having a younger half-sister in Zara, Felicity has had no contact with her or her brother Peter. The royal family has chosen to distance themselves from the situation.

In 1999, when Mark was asked if he planned to visit Felicity during an equestrian event in New Zealand, he dismissed the question as the "wrong subject." Mark later married dressage rider Sandy Pflueger in 1997 and had a daughter named Stephanie with her. However, their marriage ended in divorce after Mark reportedly left her for Lauren Hough, who was 32 years younger than him.

It seems that Felicity Tonkin's story is one of complicated family dynamics and a desire for acceptance from her father. Despite her background, she has made a name for herself as an equestrian and veterinarian, carving out her own path away from the royal spotlight.