Zara Tindall spills all on marriage and why royal guards stormed in on Mike
Zara Tindall has opened up exclusively to the Mirror about her marriage to former rugby player Mike Tindall, with the olympian revealing why she thought he was a bit 'boring' when they first met
Zara Tindall has opened up about her marriage with former England rugby player Mike Tindall, offering rare insight into what their family life is really like behind closed doors. Both Zara and Mike have enjoyed long and successful careers in sport and their down-to-earth approach has made them firm favourites with royal fans.
The niece of King Charles has admitted that she wasn't actually super impressed with Mike when they first crossed paths back in 2003, telling The Mirror that her first impression of her now-husband was that he was a bit "boring". However, it didn't take long for him to win Zara over, and the couple have been married for over 13 years, and welcomed three children into their family: Mia, 11, Lena, six, and Lucas, four.
Zara, the daughter of Princess Anne, said of their first encounter: "It is a long story. I was out with some mates. We went out to watch the Rugby World Cup. It was when we were young enough to run away from life. I went out for an all day lunch with some girlfriends. We went around the harbour and they were all very drunk and were like 'England are staying in that hotel'.
"I walked past the restaurant and I saw Austin Healey. The girls went to Austin and dropped my name and told him where they were going to be. He came out for a drink with us and he brought Mike and Martin Corrigan.
"Mikey, I thought was a bit boring actually. When Austin left and I was told 'He wants to call you after the final'. I was like 'that is a bit keen. They have not even got through the semis yet.'"
"Anyway, he messaged me the whole time like 'Come for a drink, come for a drink'. I was actually hanging out with some of the All Blacks.
"At 8am I walked into this bar and all the England guys were in there and Mike was walking out with this girl and he was like 'come for a drink'. I was like 'I have got to go home.' To this day he said that he only went and raided her fridge!"
Zara, who turns 44 today, also divulged some of the most memorable moments in the couple's long relationship, joking that one of the most "annoying" came when Mike bought a race horse on the spur of the moment, without much of a clue what he was doing. "We went to Cheltenham and it was sales night. Horses were coming in and you bid on them. He had a few beers.
"Most people when they buy a horse check out what it has done. It was the last lot of the night and Mikey put his hand up and that was it. He was left buying this horse. Annoyingly it did not backfire. The horse ended up winning the Welsh Grand National and it was third in the Grand National. It was so annoying."
The silver medal-winning equestrian also admitted that on one occasion, she had to send the police that protect the royals into her mother's apartment in St. James's Palace to wake up her husband - who had overslept after a late night with his rugby crowd.
"He overslept and was staying at St James's Palace. Our PR girl was like 'where is he?' I rang the police at St James's and said 'can you wake Mike up?' He was in my mum's flat. They let themselves in. He says they came in with guns," Zara revealed.
When it comes to parenting their three youngsters, Zara explained, she and Mike share a desire to instill a strong work ethic in their kids - and that she hopes they take an interest in a sport of some kind, something she believes helps make you a "rounded person".
"Hopefully, you can instil in them (our children) the values that you hold and from both of us what we have learned from our careers and our hard work, dedication, motivations, lessons, and respect," she explained.
"I hope that our children will learn as well. I want to make sure especially how life is now, it is so easy to be distracted from that kind of thing, so we try and work every day to make sure they get the same values that we had.
"I would love them to be involved in sport as it makes you a rounded person. That is what I want for them. I think every child in the whole country should be able to be open and be able to try every sport, at least one time."
Get Prince Harry updates straight to your WhatsApp!
As the Duke of Sussex settles down to life in the US alongside Meghan Markle, the Mirror has launched its very own Royal WhatsApp community where you'll get all the latest news on the UK's most famous family.
We'll send you the latest breaking updates and exclusives all directly to your phone. Users must download or already have WhatsApp on their phones to join in.
All you have to do to join is click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! We may also send you stories from other titles across the Reach group.
We will also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose Exit group. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
6 hours ago
- Daily Record
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle's furious row that 'ripped the monarchy to pieces'
Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton were said to have had a furious row during a clear-the-air meeting in 2018 A Royal expert has described a crucial meeting between Prince William, Prince Harry, Kate and Meghan as an event that "ripped the monarchy to pieces". The explosive encounter reportedly took place in June 2018 when the Prince and Princess of Wales sat down with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex amid rising tensions after Harry and Meghan's wedding. The situation escalated post-ceremony, as recounted in Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare', who cited early turbulence involving his wife and his sister-in-law. He detailed a dispute concerning bridesmaid dresses prior to his wedding which purportedly left Meghan in tears, mentioning that Kate "grimaced" when Meghan used her lip gloss. In an effort to resolve matters, both couples convened for a candid discussion after the Sussexes returned from their honeymoon. The atmosphere during the chat reportedly grew so fraught that it caused physical signs of distress in the Princess of Wales. According to Harry's depiction in 'Spare', the intense air-clearing session at Kensington Palace saw Kate demand an apology from Meghan while clenching a leather sofa, which saw her "fingers turn white". Harry detailed in 'Spare' that Kate's request stemmed from a comment Meghan made about her pregnancy hormones, referring to it as "baby brain". Meghan apparently offered her apologies, justifying the contentious remark as commonplace amongst her circle of friends, reports the Mirror. The situation escalated when Harry alleged that William "pointed a finger at Meg", and reportedly admonished: "Well, it's rude, Meghan. These things are not done here." Harry claims Meghan retorted: "If you don't mind, keep your finger out of my face." In the new Channel 5 documentary 'Meghan vs Kate: The Meeting That Changed the Monarchy', Royal commentators suggest this encounter was pivotal for the Sussexes, setting in motion their eventual departure from Royal duties. Richard Kay of the Daily Mail posited that this was the moment "the seed of Megxit was sewn", while his colleague Sarah Hewson reflected: "Had that meeting been a success, had they been able to put their differences aside, things would have been very different indeed." Newsweek's chief Royal correspondent Jack Royston commented: "If only they'd listened. If Meghan had listened to what was being said to her, she could have changed way back in 2018. "And even if they had still quit the monarchy, they could have saved themselves so much pain and so much conflict." He went on: "What happened in that room back in June 2018 was the defining element of the relationship between the two couples that ripped the monarchy to pieces." Valentine Low, a noted Royal author, also remarked: "They had pathetic little differences that should have been sorted out in two minutes. But it helped fuel the flames." Harry's candid reflections in his memoir 'Spare' come as Meghan shared her experiences with the royals on their Netflix series. Recounting their earliest encounters, she expressed surprise at the private formality of the Royal family members. In the second instalment of their six-part Netflix documentary, 'Harry and Meghan', the Duchess discussed her first impressions of her brother-in-law and wife Kate. "When Will and Kate came over, and I met her for the first time, they came over for dinner, I remember I was in ripped jeans and I was barefoot," Meghan explained. "I was a hugger. I've always been a hugger, I didn't realise that that is really jarring for a lot of Brits." The mother-of-two elaborated further on the Royal customs saying: "I guess I started to understand very quickly that the formality on the outside carried through on the inside. "There is a forward-facing way of being, and then you close the door and go 'You can relax now', but that formality carries over on both sides. And that was surprising to me." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mirror
8 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Love Island replacement star admits to racy sex session behind nightclub
EXCLUSIVE: Conor Phillips is the new boy entering the Love Island Series 12 villa in Mallorca, stepping in at the eleventh hour after the shock removal of original contestant Kyle Ashman Professional rugby player Conor Phillips is the new singleton entering the Love Island Series 12 villa in Mallorca, stepping in at the eleventh hour after the shock removal of original contestant Kyle Ashman. Kyle was axed from the line up over a previous arrest. The 23-year-old had been hoping to find love with someone who was "fun, confident and just themselves" on the show, fronted by Maya Jama. But just hours after he was announced, it emerged that he won't be appearing in the villa, just days before the show was due to start. In his place, Conor, 25‑year‑old Irishman, who plays wing and centre, is ready to bring fresh energy – and candid chat, which includes a racy story about a night behind the nightclub. In a chat with The Mirror, when asked about where is the most random place he has had sex, Conor quipped: 'Probably behind a nightclub. Nothing too crazy – I was young.' The twist came just days before launch when 23‑year‑old Kyle Ashman was axed following a police investigation into a machete incident. Although Kyle faced no charges and maintains his innocence, ITV pulled him from the show. Conor was swiftly drafted in. 'It's been a long process for everyone, really,' Conor reflects. 'It started around January or February. I've been over to the UK a couple of times, so I had a feeling it was coming. Now I'm here and it's the same as everyone else, really.' His entry adds to the drama of the new season, one already shaking up Love Island. ITV bosses have confirmed that this summer's series marks the return of uncensored Hideaway scenes. Executive producer Mike Spencer told The Mirror, 'If sex happens, we'll show it. The Hideaway will be open 24 hours'. Conor, stepping into potentially intimate territory, is refreshingly direct about family expectations. 'I haven't spoken to my family about [sex on screen] directly, but I've spoken to them about respecting myself and others... I'll just try to act respectfully – that's all I can really do,' he says. Speaking about signing up for the show, he said he wanted someone "who is really sure of themselves, ambitious, a bit of a go-getter and good craic." The islander from Limerick added: "I like dark eyes and I don't mind a dominant woman." Asked what his biggest ick is, he adds: "Being too needy, or needing to do everything together. I like someone to be independent and do their own thing and then we come together and do our thing. Conor boasts an impressive rugby résumé: he played for Munster's academy, represented Ireland at under-18, under-19, under-20 levels, starred in the Ireland 7s team, and helped Young Munster win the 2022 Munster Senior Cup. Series 12 kicks off amid familiar drama and fresh new personalities. With the Hideaway back in action and intimate moments uncensored again, the show is embracing its bold reputation. For Conor, the stakes are high – both for romance and for the confession booth. A whole host of new singles, including Helena Ford who has connections to Justin Bieber and Zara McDermott, and Dejon Noel-Williams who has a famous footballer dad. All have been chosen to go into the villa to try and find love while also navigating the twists and turns of the show. The series will be filmed in its usual Majorcan villa but it has been given a spruce up since last year. Love Island returns Monday, June 9 at 9pm on ITV2 and ITVX.
Daily Record
8 hours ago
- Daily Record
ITV's James Martin makes touching career announcement as he bids viewers farewell 'for now'
James Martin announced he will be taking a break from his ITV show, Saturday Morning. TV chef James Martin has declared he will be taking a break from his hit ITV show, Saturday Morning, as he and his colleagues take time out for summer. The famed cook concluded June 7's show with a touching message. The celebrity chef and TV personality wrapped up the programme by expressing his appreciation, saying: "That's all we have got time for today, a massive thank you to all of my guests". He then showed his gratitude towards his food team, continuing: "My food team, you can sleep better now. Daniel and Sally, and of course, Harry Redknapp and Carly Paoli." James subsequently announced the series finale, adding: "That is also for the series. Me and the crew are heading off on sunny holidays. Different climates." Engaging in banter about holiday plans with the crew, it was revealed one member would be jetting off to Portugal whilst James plans a jaunt to Yorkshire, reports the Mirror. He assured fans that they can expect more gastronomic treats when the show resumes: "Yorkshire for me. But we will be back here with more top chefs, other brilliant guests, and more delicious recipes later on in the year." James signed off by wishing the audience a fabulous summer break. "Until then, thanks for watching," he said. "Have a wonderful, fantastic summer. I'll see you out there wherever you are." He ended the episode with a courteous goodbye: "Thanks for watching, see you again soon, goodbye for now." Earlier on, James had let viewers know that there would be a briefer show due to another event. "Because of the Derby on ITV1 this afternoon, it is a shorter episode than usual today," he noted, before assuring: "But we still have time for one more dish." Whilst enjoying a cooking segment in Italy, James playfully considered settling there after savouring a traditional fish dish prepared by a local chef, much to the entertainment of those watching. "Can I just say if your two sons don't want to do this, you call me," he suggested. Chuckling, James contemplated a tempting thought: "I might retire here. I could be over there, I could be doing this, it is fantastic." It comes after the 52-year-old revealed he's parting with some of his race cars because they're getting harder to get out of the older he gets. "The car collection sort of changes as you get older," he shared with Samuel Goldsmith on the Good Food podcast. "You can't get in the cars that I bought 20 years ago and I can't get out of them. So I've sold quite a few of the race cars and I've gone into sort of old school cars. So stuff that I can get into and get out of." James noted that motor racing is better suited for the svelte: "It comes down to the fact that I race cars, or I still try and race a few cars and I actually struggle to get out of them now. "Getting in them, you kind of fall in them, but then you've got to get out of them and it just doesn't look very good." James' enviable collection, valued at an estimated £5million, includes vehicles with significant historical value. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!
