From rugby field to castle! former pro athlete Mike Tindall Became a member of the royal family after marrying Zara Tindall (née Phillips).
Zara’s only daughter princess anne and her ex-husband, Captain Mark Phillips, The couple – who divorced in 1992 – also share a son. peter phillips, Zara and her brother are the two eldest grandchildren of the late Queen Elizabeth II and the late Prince Philip, who died in 2022 and 2021, respectively.
When Mike met Zara in a pub in Australia in 2003, he immediately fell in love with her, despite Zara’s royal status.
“I’ve never been a forward planner. I don’t think that far ahead.’ daily Mail When he started dating his now wife in June 2011, he had no idea who his in-laws would be. “I think [my mom] still a little shocked but [both of my parents] Both were fine with it.
He added at the time: “My grandmother was a little more nervous because for her generation the royal family was massive. She was worried if it was the right thing for me.
Mike eventually proposed to Zara in December 2010, and they married a year later at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. The couple has since welcomed three children: Mia, Lena, and Lucas.
In between his royal romance, Mike has had a front row seat to many historic events with Zara and their children. The pair have often accompanied the royals to annual Christmas and Easter services, as well as to the late Queen and Philip’s respective funerals. Mike and the Olympians also attended several celebratory events for Zara’s uncle King Charles IIICoronation in May 2023.
Tindall sat next to Peter in the fourth row during the Westminster Abbey service.
“You’re in the hottest spot, but it was all happening around the corner of the wall that you couldn’t see,” Mike said later that month during an episode of his “The Good, the Bad and the Rugby” podcast. Took a pinch “It was unbelievable to sit where we were. Quite disappointed that you couldn’t see around the corner, but you had the TV there.
he and zara were directly behind his cousins prince harry, princess beatrice And princess eugenie,
“It’s one of those moments,” Mike added in his podcast. “I think the best part of the day was the six and a half hour military footmen in the backyard of Buckingham Palace and they did three cheers for the king – wow, it was goosebumps.”
Sign up for our free weekly, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more!
Scroll down to read Mike’s most candid quotes about joining the royal family: