Zara Tindall has been a devoted presence at Royal Ascot this year, but one decision during her appearances at the annual event in Berkshire has caught attention online. The Princess Royal's daughter has joined King Charles, Queen Camilla, and other members of the Royal Family for every day of the event so far this week.
Like every other guest, Zara wears a name badge pinned to her dress, with hers allowing her access to the Royal Box. While her new sister-in-law, Harriet Phillips, is referred to as Mrs Peter Phillips on her badge, Zara's reads Ms Zara Tindall. This has sparked debate among eagle-eyed fans who quickly pointed out the apparent breach of tradition.
Although Zara has used her married name since her wedding to Mike Tindall in 2011, it appears that her choice of address goes against traditional royal protocol. In its first edition of Correct Form in 1970, Debrett's noted that a married woman using her own Christian name or initials implies that her marriage has been dissolved, calling it a frequently made mistake.
By 1976, Correct Form added a footnote stating that ladies, especially those in business or professions who prefer not to disclose their marital status, have taken to using the prefix 'Ms'. However, it urged readers not to use it unless a lady has indicated this preference, as it offends many more than it pleases.
While Zara Tindall's badge refers to her as Ms Zara Tindall, rather than Mrs Mike Tindall, other senior female guests have opted for the traditional method. Much like Harriet Phillips, the Princess of Wales's mother, Carole Middleton, and her sister-in-law, Alizee Thevenet, wore badges featuring the names Mrs Michael Middleton and Mrs James Middleton.
However, in the years that have followed, Debrett's now refuses to say whether either form of address is right or wrong. Traditionally, it is considered incorrect for a married woman or a widow to be addressed by her own forename or initials, as this implies that her marriage has been dissolved. But it is becoming increasingly customary for married women and widows to use their own forenames and initials.
