Ex-rugby star Mike Tindall revealed the public would be “blown away” if they found out what the Prince and Princess of Wales were like. He made the admission in his new book, The Good, the Bad & the Rugby – Unleashed.
Speaking about their guest appearance on his podcast alongside his mother-in-law, Princess Anne, Tindall praised the royal pair for their “down-to-earth” nature.
He said: “I think the podcast humanised them a little bit, and I kind of wish they’d let us put the uncut version out, because it would have blown the public away.”
“They came across as down-to-earth, fully engaged, funny and knowledgeable… it was a far more enlightening chat than I expected, not because I thought they’d be dull (I already knew that they weren’t), but because I know how everything to do with the Royal Family is so carefully controlled.”
Tindall’s wife Zara is 21st in line to the British throne, and he praised his mother-in-law Princess Anne for knowing “more about sport than almost anyone I’ve met” as a former equestrian Olympian.
Speaking on the podcast as patrons of the WRU, RFU and SRU, William stressed how important sports are for children, especially when it comes to learning about winning and losing, before Kate joked about friendly competition within the family.
Prince William said: “I think it’s really important from a young age to understand how to lose, and why we lose, and to grow from it and what you learn from that process.
“But also to win well, and not boast. There’s so many life lessons that help us all through life, in friendship building, in relationship building, workplace, that you gain from those early years of playing team sport.”
Princess Kate joked: “I’m really not that competitive, I don’t know where this has come from,” before admitting she and William have never managed to finish a game of tennis, as “it becomes a mental challenge between the two of us”.
Talking about their three children, Kate revealed: “As they’re growing and trying out different sports – they’re obviously still really young – it’s going be interesting to see how that grows and develops.”
Tindall also came to the royal defence to quash any perception of regal duties as “shaking a few hands” and “cutting the odd ribon”.
On meeting the late Queen, he revealed: “Her life wasn’t like an episode of Downton Abbey, with meals on long tables and everyone dressed in their finery every night.”
Instead, he and Zara would “often watch the racing with her” on TV, as most people “have done with their gran”.
Talking about their three children, Kate revealed: “As they’re growing and trying out different sports – they’re obviously still really young – it’s going be interesting to see how that grows and develops.”
Tindall also came to the royal defence to quash any perception of regal duties as “shaking a few hands” and “cutting the odd ribon”.
On meeting the late Queen, he revealed: “Her life wasn’t like an episode of Downton Abbey, with meals on long tables and everyone dressed in their finery every night.”
Instead, he and Zara would “often watch the racing with her” on TV, as most people “have done with their gran”.
Mike Tindall runs the podcast with co-hosts, former rugby player James Haskell and rugby broadcaster Alex Payne.
He married Zara Tindall (formerly Philips) in 2011, who is the daughter of Princess Anne and her first husband Captain Mark Phillips.
