MIA TINDALL
Mia has inherited the same love of horses as the 95-year-old monarch
With an Olympic medallist for a mother and a dad who is a former international rugby star, seven-year-old Mia Tindall is shaping up to be as action-loving as her sporty parents.
When out in public, Zara and Mike Tindall’s eldest child is most often seen tearing around with her little sister and cousins, or enjoying a piggyback from her dad.
“Mia is a fantastic bundle of energy and that challenges you as well and keeps it interesting,” says retired England rugby union player Mike. “She has quite a little personality on her and we encourage that.”
Like her mother, who is the daughter of the Queen’s only daughter, the Princess Royal, Mia Grace Tindall was born without a title and came into the world on 17 January 2014 at Gloucestershire Royal NHS hospital, rather than at one of the private London maternity wings where royal babies are usually delivered. At 22nd in line to the throne, Mia is the Queen’s fourth great-grandchild.
Shortly after her arrival, her parents shared their joy in an exclusive interview and photoshoot with hello!.
“I still keep looking at Mia and thinking: ‘Oh! We made that!’” Zara told us.
Rugby World Cup winner Mike added that becoming a parent trumped his victories on the pitch. “Her birth was the best day of my life so far,” he said. “Winning is a pretty good feeling for a short period of time. The baby is a great feeling and it just goes on.”
Mia lives with her parents on Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire and has already inherited the love of horses that is so strong through so many generations of the royal family, including with the 95-year-old monarch, who still rides regularly. Like mum Zara, who won a silver medal as part of the three- day eventing team at the London 2012 Olympics, Mia started riding when she was three and she loves to go out on Magic, her Shetland pony, with her older cousins, Peter Phillips’s daughters Savannah and Isla.
“They often go riding together on our three Shetlands – Mia has progressed to a proper saddle now,” Mike said. “The girls are like peas in a pod and I think that closeness between them will continue for many years.”
Sporty Mia, who is now seven, also enjoys twice-weekly swimming lessons and has also tried surfing. “Mia loves swimming,” Zara says. “When we first took her to Australia she was 11 months old; we kick-started her love of water. ”
Since she was a baby, the youngster has been a regular fixture at equestrian events and is often seen running around and enjoying horseplay with her royal cousins when her mum is competing.
A favourite is the Festival of British Eventing, which granny Anne hosts at Gatcombe Park, where Mia has been spotted getting a piggy back from Savannah, as well as Burnham Market International Horse Trials in Norfolk, where Mia gets a chance to catch up with the Cambridge children, including Prince George, who is just six months older than his allaction cousin.
‘Mia and her cousins go riding together. She’s progressed to a proper saddle now’