'Message' behind Mike Tindall's behaviour in new photo with wife Zara
Mike and Zara recently celebrated their 13th wedding anniversary
Mike Tindall may have revealed more than he intended with a new Instagram photo alongside wife Zara Tindall, and one expert says it sends a touching message.
Just days before their 14th wedding anniversary on July 30, the former rugby pro, 46, posted a sweet snap of himself and Zara, 44, enjoying a rugby match together in Australia.
His caption read: “What a day Saturday was!! Lions an incredible come back, but massive shift by the Wallabies, frustrated no doubt but they get one more chance next Saturday!!”
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Mike Tindall sends ‘message’ in new photo with Zara
While the post appeared to be a simple sports update, body language expert Darren Stanton believes Mike’s pose speaks volumes about his feelings for Zara.
Analysing the image on behalf of Betfair Slots, Darren noted: “Mike adopts a gesture with his hand that we call an illustrator, which shows how someone is feeling in a certain situation.”
“The gesture, a tight shoulder hold, is very much saying ‘we are a tight unit, we are one,’ which I think is a really nice sentiment,” he explained, as reported by Express.
The gesture, a tight shoulder hold, is very much saying ‘we are a tight unit, we are one’.
The couple tied the knot on July 30, 2011, at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh. They are known for their grounded approach to royal life.
Unlike other high-profile royal weddings, their ceremony was private and low-key, attended by around 400 guests.
Zara, the daughter of Princess Anne, met Mike during the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Since then, they’ve built a life together away from the traditional royal spotlight, raising three children: Mia, Lena, and Lucas.
Mike Tindall opens up about marriage struggles
Despite their strong bond, Mike has previously opened up about the emotional challenges behind the scenes.
In ITV’s Grand Slammers documentary, he reflected on the difficult transition after retiring from professional rugby and how it impacted his identity and relationship.
“Everyone thinks that just by marrying Zara that means it’s all fine and dandy,” Mike shared. “But that doesn’t stop the fact that you need a job. And it’s not that easy, you know. You get quite institutionalised into rugby. It’s a way of life, and you leave the game and that’s not there.”
He reflected that losing the daily bond with his teammates was one of the toughest adjustments.
“You can never replace going to work with 35 of your best friends every day,” he said.
While grateful for Zara’s support, Mike admitted it took time to adjust: “Zara would say if she was honest it was probably a year it took me to figure out what I was, who I was going to be.”
Meanwhile, Mike has made it clear he has no interest in royal titles.
When asked if he would accept a royal title in the future, the former rugby star told Closer magazine: “I would definitely turn that down.”
Although he married into the royal family, Mike wasn’t given a title. Neither was Zara, whose mother Princess Anne declined royal styling for her children.
Both Anne and Zara have said it was the right choice, with Zara noting in 2023, “We were very lucky that we got to do it a bit our own way.”
Read more: ‘Reason’ Mike and Zara Tindall ‘won’t become working royals’ amid King Charles ‘decision’
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