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Prince William’s friendship with Mike Tindallgoes back way further than Mike’s romance with the prince’s cousin Zara Tindall.
“I’d been [on] the England [rugby] team for a fair while, and [Prince] Harry and William always used to come into the changing room, so [my] mum knew I’d met them before,” Mike told The Daily Mail in June 2011.
One month later, Mike married Zara in July 2011. Since then, the former pro rugby player has gotten closer to Zara’s relatives, including William.
William and Mike’s bond has even been passed down to their children. Mike and Zara and William and his wife, Princess Kate Middleton, each have three kids around the same age. (The Tindalls’ eldest, Mia, has even been spotted hanging with William and Kate’s kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, during the annual Christmas Day walkabout in 2022 and 2023.)
Many of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip’s grandchildren grew up together. The late regent’s only daughter, Princess Anne, was the first royal to expand her brood. The Princess Royal and then-husband Captain Mark Phillips welcomed son Peter Phillips in November 1977 and daughter Zara Tindall in May 1981. Less than one year after Zara’s […]
Keep scrolling for William and Mike’s sweetest quotes about their friendship:
June 2011
After Mike proposed to Zara, he detailed their courtship in an interview with the Daily Mail. In the profile, former rugby star Mike revealed that they met at the 2003 World Cup in Australia though he wasn’t starstruck due to his past interactions with William and Harry.
“I’d been [on] the England team for a fair while, and [Prince] Harry and William always used to come into the changing room, so Mum knew I’d met them before,” Mike said. “You get the speech about the right way of speaking when you meet the Queen, but nobody comes round and tells you how to behave.”
William and Zara are two of Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest grandchildren. Her Majesty died in September 2022 at the age of 96.
July 2012
William was joined by his brother, Harry, and several of his cousins at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London to cheer on equestrian Zara’s competition. Mike was pictured chatting with the Prince of Wales as they found their seats.
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
August 2019
Mike revealed during an appearance on Good Morning Britain that the royals keep in touch via a WhatsApp group.
“It’s just what you do to try and set up get-togethers and we are going to something that is the same,” he said. “If you are going to go, ‘Are you going to take the kids?’ Quite a lot of people have family WhatsApp groups. I don’t think it’s a new revelation.”
From the rugby field to the palace! Former pro athlete Mike Tindall became a member of the royal family after his wedding to Zara Tindall (née Phillips). Zara is the only daughter of Princess Anne and her ex-husband, Captain Mark Phillips. The twosome — who divorced in 1992 — also share son Peter Phillips. Zara and her […]
December 2022
Mike appeared on the U.K. reality TV series I’m a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here with William’s blessing.
“You don’t want to upset anyone. I spoke to the Prince of Wales about it and he said ‘Great, go have fun,’” he said in a December 2022 episode, noting that he’s careful to keep “conversations [about the royals] short.”
Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Kensington Palace
September 2023
William and Kate appeared on Mike’s “The Good, The Bad & The Rugby” podcast alongside Zara’s mother, Princess Anne. The royal trio’s interview was pegged to the Rugby World Cup as they talked about playing sports and being competitive.
“I’m not gonna say you’re really competitive,” Mike jokingly said with a nod. “I’ve seen [Kate] play beer pong.”
Prince William, Princess Kate and more members of the royal family have an array of special skills in their arsenals. Kate — who married William in April 2011 — is a beautiful pianist after taking classes during childhood. “Kate came for lessons when she was about 10 or 11, until she was 13, about 1993 […]
December 2023
“The Prince of Wales is known to me as ‘One Pint Willy’ because he’s not the best of drinkers,” Mike teased during an episode of the BBC’s “Total Sports” podcast. “[I am] coming from a sport where it is built on the social aspect and a couple of beers being sunk quite often. That is one I will definitely give away for the Prince of Wales. ‘One Pint Willy.’ It’s out there now. Sorry, sir!”
Weeks later, Mike’s daughter Mia walked beside William’s daughter, Charlotte, during their Christmas Day walk to church in Sandringham. (Mike and Zara held hands with second daughter Lena, while William and Kate held onto Charlotte and Louis’ hands.)
