Royal | News - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Mike Tindall has revealed a humorous incident involving Queen Elizabeth II that led to a significant improvement in their relationship. The former England rugby player, who married Zara Tindall, Princess Anne’s daughter, in 2011, shared an amusing anecdote about a Royal lunch where he found himself in a precarious situation due to the positioning of two tables.
He told the Daily Mail: “I sat next to her at lunch one day and I was sat between two table legs. It was really annoyingly close to my groin. She gets up and starts moving them [the tables] closer together.
“I said to her, ‘Ma’am, if you move them any closer, I’m going to be talking way high’. She laughed. My relationship with her changed after that, as I felt I could tell her anything.”
Tindall shared another story during an interview at the Cheltenham Festival, a renowned horse racing event, while discussing his “liver management” strategy with Raceday TV.
Mike has cleverly adapted to the trend of non-alcoholic beverages, specifically to maintain a level head throughout an eventful racing day. He confessed: “All it takes is bumping into an old friend to push you over the limits.”
To subtly moderate his drinking, Tindall turns to Guinness Zero, discreetly alternating with the low-alcohol version of his preferred stout.
He explained: “With, Guinness, you get a little zero and no one knows. A little Guinness Zero in the middle when no one knows. It goes a long way.
Mindful of his presence representing the Royal Family, he quipped: “This is what we call work. You choose the lanes that you work in. Everyone is here for a good time, and I can get on board with that.”
This is not the first instance where Mike has candidly spoken about life within the Royal Family. During a charity event, he shared a lighthearted yet tense exchange with Zara’s mother, Princess Anne, before their wedding.
Tindall recalled being told by Princess Anne that she wanted him to wear traditional Scottish trousers for the ceremony. However, as a former England rugby player, he was adamant about not sporting the garb of his former on-field rivals.
He remembered: “We got married in Scotland and Zara was schooled in Scotland. Obviously, my mother-in-law is patron of Scottish rugby.”
Mike stood firm against the suggestion, humorously retorting: “They keep on that they need to get me a pair of trews. I am, like, ‘F*** off’. I have spent my whole life trying to kill a Scotsman. I don’t want to wear their trousers.”