Mike Tindall has revealed his close bond with Prince George and even shed light on the Princess of Wales’ favorite sport.
The former rugby player, who is married to King Charles’ niece Zara, is known to have a close relationship with the young royal, and was photographed affectionately ruffling her hair during December’s Christmas Day service.
In a new interview with The telegraph To promote his podcast The Good, the Bad & the Rugby with James Haskell and Alex Payne, Mike noted that George “loves” playing football and is a big Aston Villa fan like his father, Prince William.
She also shared a sweet insight into her relationship with the 11-year-old, saying they often play together.
Mike, 45, told the newspaper: “George loves football. I have played numerous times in the garden with him.
Mike Tindall has revealed that he and Prince George ‘play football together in the garden’. Photographed in December
“He is also passionate about Aston Villa. Wherever he is, he will sit and watch that game.”
And giving an insight into the Princess of Wales’ favorite sport, he added: “They are just a family who love sport.” Catherine loves to run.
The Princess of Wales has In previous engagements she enjoyed rappelling, tennis, soccer and even a foot race with her husband. Prince William and his now separated brother Prince Harry.
In recent weeks she has slowly but steadily returned to her commitments after completing her chemotherapy treatment, visiting victims in Southport with her husband and meeting teenager Liz Hatton at Windsor Castle.
Football fan George has attended a number of football matches with his father in the past, including an Aston Villa match in April and the Euro final in July.
Prince William is known to enjoy a “bromance” with Tindall, so it’s no surprise that Mike is also close with his eldest son.
Mike said the young royal “loves football” and, like his father, Prince William is a big Aston Villa fan.
Prince George and Prince William will watch Aston Villa play Nottingham Forest in March 2023
George and William faced bitter disappointment after watching Spain and England play in the Euro final in July.
Giving insight into the Princess of Wales’ favorite sport, Mike added that she “loves running” (pictured in 2017).
talking to The times Earlier this year, a royal source dubbed Mike, 45, and Zara, 43, the “glue of their generation of royals, no matter how serious the occasion.”
“They can help the family distract themselves from the severity of what is happening,” they added.
“Although some members of the family can be very ‘real’, Mike is simply himself and is relaxed and playful with George, Charlotte and Louis.
“It helps that everyone has kids around the same age that they can play with together privately and bring a sense of normalcy to a situation that is stressful for everyone involved.”
Mike interviewed William for his podcast, The Good, The Bad and The Rugby, last year.
There, the Prince of Wales revealed that Zara’s victory in the equestrian eventing was the only time he was moved to tears while watching sports.
During the argument at Windsor Castle, the father-of-three said: “The only time I cried watching sport was when Zara won, I think it was the European championship.”
Outgoing Zara was also pictured speaking to Prince William and his mother-in-law Carole yesterday.
—I was camping on Exmoor at the time. We were all huddled around the phone looking at it. She was there, crying while the flag was raised. It was in pieces.
Also taking part in the podcast were William’s wife Kate and Zara’s mother, William’s aunt Princess Anne, an accomplished equestrian.
Continuing the discussion, Kate said, “I remember because you came back and said I’d never been so proud of anyone.”
William, along with his brother Harry, grew up in Gloucestershire, just a few miles from where Zara and her brother Peter Phillips grew up. The four royal cousins were often seen chatting and joking at royal events.
Although Zara and her husband Mike are not officially royals, they still seem to be working their way into Charles’ inner circle.
Mike Tindall and William may seem like an unlikely couple, but they are often photographed sharing a joke at royal events and can’t resist a hug when seen in public.
William, heir to the throne, was educated at Eton before completing his studies at St Andrews. He prefers football to rugby, which was more his brother Harry’s sport.
Mike attended Queen Elizabeth High School, Wakefield, and became a professional rugby player for Bath at the age of 18.
However, the couple are also hands-on parents and enjoy catching up on polo or the races, where they often give each other warm greetings like the one caught on camera.
William and Mike have been photographed as friends at several public engagements, and the former England rugby player has supported the royals at polo matches in the past.
It’s clear that the pair get along so well that Mike felt comfortable enough to mock the future King on a recent podcast, saying he calls the heir to the throne “One Pint Willy” because he’s “not the best drinker.”
Both have also been with their wives for almost 20 years: Tindall was 25 when he and Zara were introduced at the 2003 World Cup. William and Kate met at university.
Zara, in particular, also maintains a close bond with her cousins Eugenie and Beatrice, whom she often hugs and kisses at high-profile royal events.
Pictured: Zara, Eugenie and Kate Middleton chatting together at Royal Ascot in 2019.
Kate, Zara and their daughter Mia share a warm moment in 2015, while attending the Gigaset Charity Polo Match at the Beaufort Polo Club.
Pictured: Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn arrive to hold a vigil for Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall on September 17, 2022.
Zara and Kate seem to get along very well too, there are plenty of photos of the couples hanging out on quad bikes and the two mums captured laughing together or deep in conversation at events.
A touching moment between the duo was at the 2012 Olympics, when Kate was seen enthusiastically greeting Zara, who won a silver medal as part of the competition team.
Zara, in particular, also maintains a close bond with her cousins Eugenie and Beatrice, whom she often hugs and kisses at high-profile royal events.
Social media shy Beatrice made a rare post on unknown in 2022, to show your support for I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! from Mike. period, calling her cousin’s husband “the best.”
Mike has also had quite a bit of fun with Royal Family relatives: that same year he mocked his wife and Eugenie’s colorful dresses in a humorous Instagram post by comparing them to Starburst wrappers.