As granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth II, Zara Phillips is used to a life in the spotlight.

And while she certainly seems to lead a relatively normal existence with her former rugby player husband, Mike Tindall, and their toddler daughter, Mia Grace – earlier this year she experienced some of the downsides of fame.

In January on a Sydney beach dressed down in shorts and a t-shirt, online commentators called her 'chunky'.

Meanwhile, just last month, the 34-year-old was at the receiving end of numerous pregnancy rumours. Wearing an ill-fitting yellow shift dress to Royal Ascot, the resulting photographs seems to show the hints of a baby bump. 

Such was the fervour, in fact, that her publicist was forced to issue a statement saying that Zara was certainly not expecting.

It didn't help, of course, that at the time a streamlined Duchess Kate was looking incredibly slim mere weeks after giving birth to her second child, Princess Charlotte.

Indeed, public comparisons between the two women was almost inevitable. 

But while Ms Phillips, an Olympic silver medallist, has never seemed like the type to get upset over the odd bit of bad lighting and or bad angles, turning up at the K Club in Kildare yesterday, she nevertheless looked incredibly fit and slim.

Wearing a tiny black playsuit and black strappy sandals, the mother-of-one looked stunning posing alongside Mike.

The high-profile duo jetted into Ireland to attend the swish Marks & Spencer Ireland Marie Keating Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic. 

Now in its 16th year, the event is definitely one of the highlights of the golfing calendar – and certainly always attracts an A-list crowd. 

Raising much-needed funds for the cancer foundation, the likes of actors Dougray Scott and Stephen Graham, rugby legend Shane Byrne, and former footballers Ian Wright and Ronnie Whelan were all spotted on the famed Kildare course. 

Also in attendance was Ronan Keating and his fiancee Storm Uechtritz, Keith Duffy, who brought along his handsome son Jay, stylist Suzanne Goggins, and Chanel marketing manager Ciara Hughes Dunleavy.

Guests enjoyed a drinks reception followed by a four-course meal in The Arnold Palmer Room with wine and champagne from M&S. 

Entertainment was provided by comedian Stan Boardman and singer Cole Page. 

Brothers Ronan and Gary Keating also hosted an auction with items such as golf merchandise signed by Rory McIlroy going under the hammer to raise funds for the worthy cause.

See mariekeating.ie and marksandspencer.ie.