Lissa Green poses for Country Life magazine ‘girls in pearls’ page

Eventer Lissa Green has joined an elite band of lady riders who have appeared on the famous ‘frontispiece’ of Country Life magazine.

The frontispiece — or ‘girls in pearls’ as it is known affectionately — has launched the editorial section of the magazine ever since it was first published on 8 January 1897.

Lissa, daughter of six-times Badminton winner Lucinda Green, featured in last week’s issue. She is shown leaning against hay bales at Rockley Manor, Wilts, where she keeps her event horses.

Traditionally, the frontispiece page was the place for aristocratic girls to announce their engagements.

But in recent years the page has been gently updated to feature young women in business, sport, the arts and charity work.

And rather than pearls and a pretty dress, girls increasingly choose to wear their everyday clothes. In May 2011, Zara Phillips opted for jeans and a fleece by her sponsor Musto, ahead of her marriage to former England rugby captain Mike Tindall.

Zara’s mother, Princess Anne, was also a frontispiece in 1971, for her 21^st birthday.

Laura Tomlinson (then Bechtolsheimer) wore her full Team GBR dressage kit for her frontispiece in July 2008, posing alongside her great campaigner Mistral Hojris.

And showjumper Harriet Nuttall and her sisters Emma and Lucy all wore riding gear when they appeared in the 24 October 2012 frontispiece to mark Emma’s engagement to the National Hunt jockey, Joe Tizzard.

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