Inside Prince William and Mike Tindall's 'bromance' amid Prince Harry 'feud'
Their relationship has been described as "brotherly"
Mike Tindall and Prince William may not have grown up as brothers, but their bond has become one of the royal family’s most surprising and supportive alliances.
While the fractured relationship between Prince William and Prince Harry continues to make headlines, a different royal bond has quietly flourished.
Enter Mike Tindall, the down-to-earth former rugby star and husband of Zara Tindall. Together, William and Mike have formed a modern-day bromance.
Prince William and Mike Tindall’s ‘bromance’
As the world watches William and Harry’s ongoing estrangement, royal insiders say it’s Mike who has become William’s “replacement brother”.
Royal commentator Jennie Bond previously told OK!: “When two people in a family fall out, it makes life very difficult not only for them, but for the rest of the family too. Loyalties are tested, and there is no easy answer.”
She said Mike, as well as Zara’s brother and William’s cousin Peter Phillips, has become a “‘replacement’ brother” for the future king.
For William, Mike has become a key figure of support, steady, uncontroversial, and, most importantly, fun.
Royal expert Tom Quinn put it simply to the Express previously: “I’ve spoken to a couple of people who know William well, and he really does get on very well with Mike Tindall. But then, everyone in the royal family likes Mike. He has never caused trouble for anyone.”
Mike Tindall has that kind of sportsman camaraderie that would especially appeal to William.
Mike’s blend of humour and humility has made him a favourite within the monarchy.
Known for his easy-going charm and sportsman’s camaraderie, Mike has been part of the royal family since 2011, when he married Zara, Princess Anne’s daughter. The couple share three children, Mia, Lena and Lucas.
Mike’s bond with William is often on display at public events. They even share inside jokes, most famously, Mike’s cheeky nickname for the future king: “One Pint Willy.”
As Mike revealed on his podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, the nickname came from William’s supposed lack of drinking prowess.
“The Prince of Wales is known to me as One Pint Willy because he’s not the best of drinkers,” Mike joked, before quickly adding: “Oh my God. It’s out there now. Sorry, Sir.”
‘He can live vicariously through Mike’
Elsewhere, royal biographer Ingrid Seward told The Telegraph in 2023 of William and Mike: “Mike Tindall has that kind of sportsman camaraderie that would especially appeal to William, who was once a wild boy himself.
“Mike gets funnier under the influence of alcohol and can be totally outrageous. William can’t do this anymore as he’s too aware of his responsibilities. But he can live vicariously through Mike.”
Mike’s ability to blend into royal life without overstepping has been key.
As Dickie Arbiter, former palace press secretary, put it: “Mike is a pretty straight guy. He’s down to earth, and William is too. They are two peas from the same pod. They’ve just had different upbringings.”
That difference in upbringing hasn’t stopped them from forming a close bond, one that Harry, according to Tom Quinn, is painfully aware of.
“Harry has been aware of this for some time, and it does upset him,” Tom explained to Express. “But he can’t have a close relationship with William at the moment.”
Prince William’s ‘reaction’ to Mike Tindall doing I’m A Celebrity
Mike’s down-to-earth presence has also won over William’s wife Kate, who appeared alongside William on Mike’s podcast in 2023.
Meanwhile, Mike’s appearance on the UK version of I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2022 further cemented his likeable reputation. While he didn’t seek King Charles’ permission to join the show, he did ask William.
Mike told Vanity Fair at the time: “I spoke to the Prince of Wales about it, and he said, ‘Great, go have fun.'”
That level of trust speaks volumes. While William’s relationship with Harry remains strained, his bond with Mike is stronger than ever.
With Harry’s absence leaving a gap in William’s life, it’s clear that Mike Tindall has become the brother figure William can lean on.
Read more: Prince William announces new plans over Prince George’s ‘inheritance’
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