King Charles is known for his incredibly close bond with his younger sister, Princess Anne, who is only 21 months his junior.
And it appears this close connection has extended to the Princess Royal's two children, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, since the monarch is very close to his niece.
Speaking about the Tindalls, royal author Robert Jobson told HELLO!: "They are a great success story and are very well liked. Zara is probably the only person who could go up to the King at Royal Ascot and put her arms around him from behind. Meanwhile, Mike has become a trusted part of the family."
He continued: "They are in an interesting position because they're part of the royal network, but they're not limited by being titled or working royals. But the King and others can call on them when needed, and they are happy to turn up at events like Catherine's Christmas carol concert, and to support William when he hosts garden parties at Buckingham Palace.
© James Whatling"I can see them having a sort of semi-official role at family events in the future. They will certainly be at Royal Ascot and the Derby, but I think we will see more of Zara at garden parties and things like that. She and Mike are optically helpful to the whole more modern, less taxpayer-funded monarchy that William is probably looking to try to achieve, without all the drama that comes with someone like his brother, who is nearer the throne [than Zara]."
Robert spoke exclusively to HELLO! about the Tindall family as the couple marked 15 years of marriage, and for an in-depth look into the royal couple, we have a special VIP article.
Zara's bond with the monarch
Although Zara isn't a working member of the royal family, she has still been seen with her uncle on several occasions, most frequently at Royal Ascot.
When the annual racing event was held back in June, the pair crossed paths, and they shared the sweetest interaction. After her traditional curtsy to the King, she reached for his arm and gave it an affectionate squeeze.
Charles and Zara's husband, Mike, also shared a sweet exchange, with Charles seemingly falling for Mike's classic prank of having a miniature top hat fall. The mini hat supposedly contains chocolates, and he presented one to the King's late mother in 2019.
In 2023, the pair also had a touching exchange, with Charles kissing Zara on the cheek following the carriage procession. On previous occasions, they have been seen wrapping their arms around each other, although a hug from behind has yet to happen.
© GettyThe King and his niece also share a passion for horses and equestrian sports, with Zara winning a silver medal as part of Team GB's eventing team at the London 2012 Olympics.
Both Zara and her older brother, Peter Phillips, attended Charles and Camilla's nuptials in Windsor in 2005, with the future King and Queen returning the favour at Mike and Zara's Edinburgh wedding in 2011.
