Princess Anne's brutal response to Zara Tindall's tongue piercing

The notorious reputation of teenagers pushing boundaries is not restricted to common folks, even Royal youngsters have their rebellious moments. A case in point is Zara Tindall's memorable act of defiance back in 1998, when at the young age of 17 she decided to get her tongue pierced, a move that resonated with parents of adolescents around the globe.

Bracing herself for the bold move whilst studying at Scotland's prestigious boarding school, Gordonstoun - a favoured institution among many Royal Family members - Zara did not fly under the radar with this cheeky act of insubordination. A silver stud adorning her tongue was first sighted at her Uncle King Charles' 50th birthday bash.

One can only speculate about the reaction the no-nonsense Princess Anne had upon seeing her daughter sporting this unconventional oral decoration. Thankfully, an unearthed interview of Zara, who's now aged 43, has given everyone a peek into how straightforwardly the Princess Royal would respond to her daughter's untraditional bending of the Royal protocol.

During a candid conversation with Tatler magazine in 2011, Zara jested: "At least I didn't have it coming out of my nose, or anything."

Coupled with reports that indicate rather than being taken aback, the Princess Royal merely enquired if Zara could still articulate well with the piercing, as the Express reported, reports the Mirror.

Former Royal butler Grant Harrold has reminisced about the moment he first encountered Zara Tindall's unexpected fashion choice. Recounting the experience, he said: "She was the very first royal I met. In Scotland I was working and it was the weekend."

He went on to reveal his reaction to her tongue piercing: "It was all in the press that she had her tongue pierced and it was so exciting because when she was speaking to us, I suddenly saw the tongue piercing and I was like 'Oh, I've seen it'."

Princess Anne is recovering after an accident at her Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire, which is believed to have been caused by a horse kick or headbutt. Buckingham Palace released a statement confirming: "The Princess Royal has sustained minor injuries and concussion following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate yesterday evening."

Further details were provided by the Palace: "Her Royal Highness remains in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation and is expected to make a full and swift recovery. The King has been kept closely informed and joins the whole Royal Family in sending his fondest love and well-wishes to The Princess for a speedy recovery."

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