Inside Zara and Mike Tindall's relationship - First meeting to how their children are following their footsteps
Mike felt 'welcomed' into the royal family...Mike and Zara Tindall first crossed paths in 2003, the moment felt less like chance and more like destiny quietly at work for the future relationship.
Cast your minds back 23 years ago. Mike had just been dropped from England’s Rugby World Cup semi-final, a bitter disappointment that left him frustrated. To clear his head, he went out for a “beer with another guy who got dropped and a guy who was over in Sydney,” not realising that this moment would mark the start of something extraordinary.
Mike, 46, England, former Rugby Player, shared how he first met Zara, the king’s niece, through Prince Harry while he was in Sydney. It didn’t go swimmingly the first encounter, so what happened next? Let’s look at how Mike and Tindall’s relationship unfolded in the years since.
A meeting to remember… eventually
“When we met, I basically only said hello,” Mike recalled later.
“I didn’t really even talk to her because I was, as I said, I was still quite down.”
Mike Tindall, who felt bad for his behaviour, invited Zara to lunch, and they became friends before officially starting a relationship.
“First actual date, just went out for lunch locally. And ended up being quite a boozy one. Then we figured out that we both quite like getting smashed. It was a good start.”
It seems that Mike Tindall was not the only one feeling low that day, as Zara was also having a tough time at the start of their relationship.
Speaking to the Telegraph, Zara, 44, British equestrian, daughter of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, shared that she met Mike after feeling down herself.
The royal met the athlete “just after finding out my horse had injured himself, so I was quite low and vulnerable…”
Zara explained: “He understands the pressures, and vice versa, which obviously helps, but it actually started from becoming very good friends.”
It made forming a connection much easier and they started officially dating in 2004.
Mike also shared that Prince William and Prince Harry were “massive England fans at the time, so we’d met them numerous times.”.
In 2008, Mike revealed that it was easy getting on with the royal family and claimed that “they are really down to earth.” He even added that Princess Anne is “a legend” and that Zara’s dad, Captain Mark Phillips, was “lovely too”.
Zara and Mike Tindall’s relationship moves on to the next level
After dating for five years, the couple took it to the next level and got engaged in 2010.
Mike Tindall shared that he wanted to propose without her knowing, as he wanted it to be special and unforgettable. He shared that he got down on one knee at their house and said that “she was in complete shock.”
He was not quite sure if she was going to accept the proposal and felt very nervous as she was laughing. Zara “then, stopped laughing,” and say “yes”.
“That was a relief,” Mike says.
Buckingham Palace then released a statement to share the happy occasion of Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips’ engagement.
In May 2011, the couple received their consent to marry from Queen Elizabeth II and were married two months later in Edinburgh with 400 guests.
Expanding the family
On 17 January 2014, Buckingham Palace released a statement sharing news that brought happiness to the couple and the royal family, saying, “Mr Michael Tindall today safely delivered a baby girl at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital,” named Mia Grace.
They even shared that “the weight of the baby was 7 lbs 12oz.”
Mike thanked the public on X by posting: “Thanks so much for all your kind messages. Definitely the best day of my life today, so happy! The girls are both doing great!”
Fast forward to 2018, and the couple had their second daughter, Lena Elizabeth. The couple shared that Lena “was just a name they liked,” and Elizabeth was after Zara’s grandmother, Her Majesty at the time.
In 2021, they welcomed their baby boy, Lucas Phillip.
During a guest appearance on The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast, Mike revealed that Zara gave birth on their bathroom floor. Imagining the chaos and panic it must have caused, Zara safely delivered their first baby boy.
Their children are following in their footsteps
The family are often spotted at sporting events, and it seems that the children have taken a liking to sport, likely due to the background of their parents.
The Badminton Horse Trials took place in May 2024 and the whole family were spotted on the sidelines as Zara took part in the event.
A picture captured of the kids hugging Zara after the competition quickly went viral, highlighting the close bond within the family.
During an interview after, Zara held Lucas close to her, with Lena shyly standing next to her and Mia standing beside her baby brother.
Mike spoke to HELLO! in 2023, sharing that “Both Mia and Lena go to Minchinhampton rugby club on a Sunday and they are only nine and four so we’ve got to give them a bit of time before the pressure comes on but they love all sports and they play rugby as well”.
The family have also been enjoying travelling back and forth to Australia, where they first met and currently resides in Gatcombe Estate in Gloucestershire.
There have been rumours that they may have a property in Australia, but GB News claims that they do not have a “base” Down Under. They may have many memories there, but they have no plans to move abroad.
From a chance meeting in Sydney to family life at Gatcombe Estate, Mike and Zara Tindall have built a relationship full of love, laughter, and sport.
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