British Eurovision flag-flyers Scooch received one of the sincerest forms of flattery over the weekend, from none other than the Queen's granddaughter and friends.

Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne and granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth, dressed in a metallic blue suit and performed Flying the Flag (For You) with the five-strong horseriding team at the party near Rome.

The team, captained by Phillips, are in Italy for the European Eventing Championships, and competed against other national teams in a mock contest. Unlike Scooch, the British band won by a mile in Italy, beating a Hawaiian-inspired French entry and a German group clad in white tights and tutus. The team now hope to continue their run of success by securing a seventh European team gold in a row.