Mike Tindall married Zara Phillips in 2011 and consequently inherited a fabulous in-law, Princess Anne.
Princess Anne and Mike Tindall appear to really warm to each other, with body language expert Judi James telling Express.co.uk that Mike helps his mother-in-law “relax a little”.
When Anne appeared on the podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, Judi noted the fondness between them. She said: “Anne could easily be seen as a rather daunting mother-in-law with her reputation for being naturally intimidating and not suffering fools gladly, if at all.
“But the way Mike’s facial expression softens when he turns to look at her shows how much he adores her and enjoys her company. It’s not even done as a flattering gesture because the facial-softening occurs when he is talking, suggesting some like-minded thinking with Anne plus a shared sense of humour.”
When Mike Tindall took part in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in 2022, he spoke about a particularly hilarious moment he once shared with her.
Mike told his fellow contestants that he has ripped several pairs of trousers with his “over-exaggerated dancing at weddings”.
He revealed that this bad habit of his forces him to come prepared. For this reason, he brings a spare suit when he attends nuptials.
Zara Tindall is 42 now but on her 30th birthday Mike made a real faux pas – in front of his mother-in-law.
He told his fellow contestants that at his wife’s 70s themed disco party he ripped his “quite tight” flared trousers.
In front of his mother-in-law, he went for it on the dance floor with a s*** drop.
To his horror his trousers ripped, unveiling his boxers which read “nibble my nuts”. But Princess Anne’s next line absolutely stole the show. It is not what people would expect from the Princess Royal.
The senior royal was reportedly quick with a funny reply, telling her son-in-law: “I’d rather not.”
Mike told his friends in the jungle that he turned round and walked off at this point, but the reaction suggests that the pair have a hilarious relationship.
It’s clear that Mike brings out a fun side to Anne, allowing her to be a jokey mother-in-law in addition to senior royal.
