Zara Phillips marries Mike Tindall in low-key royal wedding ceremony

Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips depart after their royal wedding at Canongate Kirk on July 30, 2011, in Edinburgh, Scotland.

/ Getty

(CBS/ AP) EDINBURGH, Scotland - Zara Phillips, eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, and 13th in line for the British throne, was married to rugby star Mike Tindall on Saturday, July 30, 2011, in Edinburgh's Cannongate Kirk.

Britain's second royal wedding of the year was largely a low-key affair, with only a hint of the glamour and excitement of Prince William's showstopping nuptials in April .

Pictures: Royal wedding in Scotland
Pictures: Wedding guests
Pictures: Pre-wedding cocktail party
Pictures: The wedding rehearsal

Phillips, 30, an accomplished equestrian like her mother, and Tindall, 32, were greeted by hundreds of flag-waving well-wishers and the sound of traditional bagpipes as they arrived for their private wedding ceremony.

The often publicity shy bride wore a traditional ivory silk gown and a full-length flowing veil, but gave only the briefest glimpse to onlookers as she arrived at the central Edinburgh church for a 45-minute service.

After a fleeting wave to the crowds, Phillips stepped inside the church as large red doors were firmly closed behind her.

The wedding service led by Rev. Neil Gardner was not being broadcast on television, and crowds gathering in the Scottish city were told by police there would be little for them to see.

A huge cheer erupted as William and Kate, now known as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, arrived to join the congregation, traveling in a sleek black saloon car with Prince Harry.

The Duchess of Cambridge, wearing a biscuit colored coat, dress and angled hat, won a warm reception as she waved to well-wishers, as did the queen and Duke of Edinburgh who arrived shortly before the bride.

While the details of Middleton's wedding gown were a closely guarded secret, Phillips, more commonly seen in jeans or sportswear, made an expected choice, picking Stewart Parvin, a British designer favored by the queen. She also wore a Greek Key tiara on loan to her by mother, Princess Anne, and Jimmy Choo shoes.

Known better for her sporting achievements than royal heritage, Phillips is a world class equestrian who is likely to compete in the 2012 Olympics.

Pictures: Zara Phillips
Read More: Pre-wedding festivities
Special section: The royal wedding

Her longtime partner Tindall, whom Phillips met in 2003 in Australia during England's triumphant Rugby World Cup campaign, is a leading rugby player who has captained his country. Several of his teammates and coaches joined the celebrations.

While the occasion was far removed from April's international spectacle at Westminster Abbey, the prospect of a brief glimpse of the royal family was enough to entice hundreds to Scotland, including a few dozen people who camped overnight to win a front row view.

Phillips and Tindall hosted a glitzy cocktail party late Friday for relatives and guests aboard the former royal yacht Britannia, which they had hired for the occasion.

But the party was a rare moment of public glamor for the usually down-to-earth Phillips, who is celebrating with a private wedding reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the queen's official home in Scotland.

The couple are known for putting their devotion to sport ahead of their celebrity, and plan to postpone their honeymoon as both are due to feature in major events next week, the bride in horse trials, and the groom in England's rugby international against Wales. Phillips also plans to continue to use her maiden name when she competes.

50 Photos

Royal wedding in Scotland

[formrusmcsgt]

by pleiadies1 July 31, 2011 8:41 AM EDT
As you are not a British citizen it's none of your business lawyertom1 how we run our country.
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Maybe, but he certainly has the right to view royals as a bunch of parasites nonetheless, doesn't he?

[pleiadies1]

No, actually he doesn't. I rather regard YOUR political elite as parasites. The Queen pays the Exchequer rather more in Income Tax than she receives from the Civil List, so not only does the Queen not cost the British public anything, we make a profit from her. Your beloved President costs you, and costs you, and costs you.

[formrusmcsgt]

The Brits are dolts.

Millions upon millions to maintain an in-bred lot who are relics of an archaic caste system.

Totally stupid.

"Royals" my ass.

The great majority are adulterers and adulteresses who show they are to be looked at as the sorry lot they are, rather than be esteemed in any way.

[semphermea]

What an intelligent thing to say. NOT!

[formrusmcsgt]

Adore this scum if you choose........

[anneable]

JULY 40, 2011????? Come on CBS!! Hire a proof reader - PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

[mari1963]

It makes me sick that capt. Phillips walked Zara down the aisle. He cheated on her mother, princess Anne and had an out of wedlock child while still married to her when Zara was just a child. The man is a loser. Her stepdad would have been a better choice.

[RealiteBites]

I just heard on the news that Princess Anne refused to give her kids a title, so this granddaughter of the Queen is technically a 'commoner' not a Princess. No bodyguards, to royal allowance, none of that.

That's kind of interesting ... apparently she's trying to make the Olympic team in 2012.

[semphermea]

Well, actually, The Princess Royal's children are not entitled to letters patent as their father has no Royal title. The Queen offered to bestow a title upon him, which in turn would allow Zara and Peter titles, but he refused.

[cbsblogger]

Who cares about celebrity or royalty, except their promoters who are on the take. It isn't like these people invented the polio or cancer vaccine. They've done nothing except win a parent lottery.

[barbaram99]

There is no July 40,2011..July has 31 days..

[themadxan]

Hilarious video---> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHY9EykGMfI

[lawyertom1]

I find it slightly bizarre that in this day of 9% U.S. unemployment overall and huge unemployment in various communities, separations of wealth between the top 1% and the bottom 90% at an all-time maximum, starvation in many countries, several wars, and various environmental threats that we spend time on weddings and other activities of those whose sole claim to "fame" is that they were born into some antiquated family whose claim to status is of questionable merit.

[pleiadies1]

As you are not a British citizen it's none of your business lawyertom1 how we run our country. As for the US's problems, many of them are down to your fornm of governnent, which is, admittedly, abysmal.

[semphermea]

I agree with Pleidies1. Why are most Americans on this site even bothering about the British Royal family. I am duel nationality (Brit and American) and having spent time in both countries I would argue that the Royal family do a substantial amount of REAL and unseen work throughout the UK. The only time Americans ever get to read / hear / see about it is when it's the glitz and the glamour, CBS and other US networks do not report on the Queen's charitable givings or the fact that she spends her life dealing with diplomatic issues. AND, why do Americans even care what 'the British' spend their money on. Mind your own, is what I say and concentrate on the US and IT'S problems.