Zara and Mike’s love story
The Tindalls’ ten-year anniversary is on 30 July
Once upon a time
The Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips and rugby player Mike Tindall first met in Sydney during the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Zara, 40, said Mike, 42, was drowning his sorrows after being dropped from the England squad just before the semi-finals. They were introduced, and afterwards one of Mike’s friends gave him Zara’s number.
Blossoming love
Mike ended up texting Zara, and once back in the UK, they started dating. They became a couple in 2004. “I think it was 27 April – that would be the official date we said we were going to go out with each other,” he has since said.
Wedding bells
The royal couple tied the knot in July 2011 in a small, private ceremony at Canongate Kirk on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile. Zara looked beautiful walking down the aisle in a dress by Stewart Parvin, who is a favoured designer for both Princess Anne and the Queen.
Sporting heroes
Both Zara and Mike have remained passionate about their sporting careers. The former rugby union ace, now a podcaster and businessman, described her as being an “awesome support” through his career, while she says their shared devotion to sport means “he understands the pressures and vice versa”. In 2012, Zara won silver for equestrian eventing with her team at the London Olympics.
Meet the royals
Shortly after they went official, Mike was introduced to Zara’s mother Princess Anne. In 2008, he said, “Zara’s mum is a legend and her father is lovely, too. My mates in Wakefield are forever asking how I fit in among the royal family, but they are really down to earth.”
She said yes!
After six years together, the couple announced their engagement in December 2010, and Mike hit the nail on the head when it came to the ring – a round solitaire diamond with double band – as Zara said, “Mike found it. I hinted what I liked, but he did it all himself.”
Baby love
Their first child Mia Grace arrived in January 2014. They announced they were expecting their second baby in 2016, but sadly Zara suffered a miscarriage. Lena Elizabeth arrived in June 2018, and this year, the couple had their first son, Lucas Philip, on 21 March, who Zara gave birth to on their bathroom floor!
Happy families
Despite being royals, the family of five tend to enjoy a quiet life at their home in Gloucestershire. Zara says, “When we don’t have to be somewhere, we are pretty low-key. It’s nice to go out with the dogs and explore the woods and fields that surround our house – I love the quiet and isolation of where we live.”