ZARA PHILLIPS, the eldest granddaughter of the ruling British Queen

There will be three royals who will be walking-down-the-aisle next year.

Although technically, Zara Phillips is not royal by birth because her father, Captain Mark Phillips, whom Princess Anne married in November 14, 1973 ( on Prince Charles' 25th birthday), is a commoner without any noble title, she is informally regarded as royalty because she is a daughter of a true-blooded Princess and a granddaughter of a ruling sovereign. It was even reported that aside from Prince William, Zara is the only family member who has a direct access to the Queen, she can call or see her grandmother anytime without passing through an appointment.

Zara Phillips, only daughter of Princess Anne. Currently, she is 13^th in the line of succession to the British throne. She is reportedly the closest cousin of Prince William and Prince Harry.

Sounds like “Love Is In The Air” for European royals. After Prince Albert II of Monaco and Prince William of Wales had announced their engagement, Will’s closest cousin, Zara Phillips, quickly followed the wedding euphoria. While William and Albert already revealed the exact date of their wedding day, Zara has yet to finalize the schedule and venue of her big day.

Born Zara Anne Elizabeth Phillips (her first name, Zara, was given by her uncle, Prince Charles, because it carries a fantastic meaning in Greek: Bright as the Dawn) on May 15, 1981 at St. Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London (where her royal cousins, Prince William and Prince Harry, were also born). She is the youngest child of Her Royal Highness, Princess Anne the Princess Royal, only daughter of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II and His Royal Highness Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Zara's father is Captain Mark Phillips, an Olympian in the Equestrian division. She studied at Exeter University but it was not known whether she finished her Physiotherapy course. Just like her parents who are both Olympic gold medalists, Zara also is an accomplished equestrianne, having represented Britain in various international competition, in 2006, she won the Equestrian World Championship in Germany. She was named in 2006 by the BBC news as Sports Personality of the Year and on the following year she was given an honor called Member of the British Empire (MBE) by her grandmother during Her Majesty’s New Year Honour’s List. For two succeeding Olympics (2004 and 2008) Zara's dream to join the British team was halted by the injury suffered by her horse, Toy Town, but she is set to join the competition in 2012 London World Olympics.

Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips

Zara, the champion equestrianne

Zara during the Badminton Horse Trials

With her two closest cousins, Prince William and Prince Harry, during 2009 Christmas celebration at Sandringham estate of the Queen, where they traditionally gathered to celebrate the Christmas eve.

Her mother tried to raise her and her older brother, Peter Phillips, in a normal environment away from the trappings of royalty, so they never take royal engagements except when necessary (like charitable causes). Her parents filed for divorce after 18 years of marriage in 1992 and when it was finalized, Princess Anne remarried to Timothy Laurence, a commander in the Royal Navy. Zara has two half-siblings on her father's side.

with her brother, Peter Phillips, and grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II

Mike Tindall and Zara's mother, the Princess Anne

Zara's boyfriend of seven years, Mike Tindall, is a Captain in Gloucester Rugby Team in England (rugby union is a popular sport in Britain similar to football—only that rugby is a sport based on running with an oval-shaped ball in hand). Other than having a father as a Rugby Union Captain, reports about his break-away with his former rugby team, reckless driving charges and his regrets for refusing to put on braces to strengthen his teeth, nothing much have been reported on Tindall's personal life.

Mike Tindall will soon join the British royal family

Mike Tindall in action. He is reportedly one of the highest-paid rugby players in England

Zara and Mike shared a home at Princess Anne’s estate, Gatcombe’s Park, in Gloucestershire since 2007, so people have been speculating they'll get married soon, finally, the couple announced their engagement on December 21, 2010 but no specific date have been finalized. On the day of their engagement, Mike Tindall, presented Zara a diamond solitaire ring set on a split band made of platinum which he personally designed. The couple, who reportedly wants to avoid the hoopla of an elaborate wedding, will possibly choose St. George Chapel in Windsor Castle as the site of the ceremony. Most royals who want to avoid the throngs of people and reporters on their wedding day chose this historical chapel to say "I do"because of its exclusive location, Zara's uncles Prince Edward and Prince Charles (on his marriage to Camilla Parker-Bowles) and her brother, Peter Phillips, were all married at St. George's Chapel.

Zara during the Emirates Melbourne Cup Day in Australia (2009)

Her cousin, Prince William, will wed on the 29th of April, 2011 at Westminster Abbey, while another European royal, Prince Albert II of Monaco, is set to marry on the 3rd of July, 2011 in Monaco. Zara's wedding however is expected to happen  either summer or autumn in 2011 so as not to overlap with her cousin's spring wedding.

Prince Albert II of Monaco and Charlene Wittstock, a South African Olympian

It was earlier reported that Prince Charles will foot the bill on William's wedding and a little share from Her Majesty, it is not known however if Princess Anne and the Queen will do the same for Zara.