Zara Phillips nominated for U.K. Olympic team

(CBS/AP) Queen Elizabeth II's granddaughter Zara Phillips has been nominated as part of the U.K.'s five-person team for the upcoming London Olympics, according to the British Equestrian Federation.

The 31-year-old royal equestrian athlete won the coveted spot after a string of strong performances, particularly a third-place finish at Bramham last weekend.

The nomination caps a long journey for Phillips. She won the World Championship in 2006 and was selected to compete for the 2008 Beijing Olympics on Toytown, but her horse was injured and could not compete.

In the years since, Phillips suffered a dry spell, only to come charging back on a new horse last year. Just months ago, she was considered a long shot for the Olympic team.

Phillips comes from an Olympian and equestrian family. Her mother, the Princess Royal, competed at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, while her father, Mark Phillips, won team gold at the Munich Games in 1972 and team silver in 1988 at the games in Seoul.

The equestrian events will be held at London's Greenwich Park. The Olympic Games run from July 27-Aug. 12.