One of the most heartwarming royal bonds is between Mike Tindall and his mother-in-law, the Princess Royal. She even made a guest appearance on his podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales.
The former England star, now 47, has been married to Princess Anne's daughter, Zara, since 30 July 2011.
© Photo: Getty ImagesBut in the run-up to their wedding, Mike admitted that his future mother-in-law had a rather unusual request for him – but he politely turned it down…
Princess Anne's strange request
© GettyMike told producers and crew on the set of Sky One's A League of Their Own in 2011 that Princess Anne had asked him to have corrective surgery on his nose.
The rugby pro had broken his nose at least eight times during his sporting career, but he politely turned down Anne's request to have it straightened as undergoing surgery would have interfered with his training schedule at the time.
Speaking to the Radio Times in November 2011 a few months after his wedding, Mike defended his mother-in-law, saying "it was a light-hearted, jokey comment" adding: "It wasn't a big deal, and look at my nose - can you blame her?"
© GettyNose surgery
Mike, who was part of the England rugby squad who won the 2003 World Cup, retired from the sport in 2014.
The father-of-three underwent a procedure to straighten his nose in April 2018 ahead of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding.
© GettyMike's hilarious dance with Princess Anne
During his appearance on I'm A Celebrity in 2022, Mike recalled a hilarious anecdote with Princess Anne from Zara's 30th birthday party as seen in the clip below...
The sportsman told his fellow campmates Seann Walsh and Babatúndé Aléshé that he was dancing with the Princess Royal when his flared trousers ripped, exposing his boxers that had a rude message printed on them.
"Zara had like a 30th birthday, it was a disco 70s-themed one. I was dancing on the dance floor, I had like flares on, full outfit but it was quite tight, nothing ever fits - rugby player's bum and legs - so I was dancing with my mother-in-law and I did a [expletive] drop in front of my mother-in-law," he said.
© GettyMike continued: "Ripped my trousers, straight in front of her. It happened to be that my boxers that I had on at that time said 'nibble my nuts,'" which prompted laughter from Seann and Babatúndé.
He added: "As I've turned round, she's [Anne] gone, 'I'd rather not.' I've gone, 'Yeah I'm going' and walked off."
Family life with Zara
Since their marriage at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh on 30 July 2011, Mike and Zara have welcomed three children – Mia, Lena and Lucas, born in 2014, 2018 and 2021 respectively.
The husband-and-wife duo couldn't be more in love, and Mike couldn't be more gushing about what a brilliant mother Zara is when he caught up with HELLO! in 2023.
© Getty ImagesWhen asked why his beautiful wife is such a wonderful mum, he said: "Her passion her compassion, her dedication. I think they are the foundations of any great mother, it's just born in.
"She punishes herself for going to work because she doesn't want to leave them, I take my hat off to all women out there."
Mike and Zara's children have a competitive nature
© Getty ImagesMike also revealed that his daughters have certainly inherited his competitive streak. Speaking at the Henley Literature Festival last weekend, the former rugby star opened up about life with Mia, 12, Lena, eight, and Lucas, five: "Even if it's just a race upstairs to bed, there will be ankle taps."
An ankle tap is a classic rugby tackle where a defender trips an opponent by diving at their feet.
Mike continued: "It might lead to a broken leg one day, but they will learn. Hopefully the children will turn out like us."
