Life’s a beach for royal couple Mike and Zara Tindall, who sizzle Down Under while the rest of us shiver back home.
The king’s niece and his rugby playing nephew-in-law have been taking things easy in Australia enjoying a sun kissed break in trendy Byron Bay.
And they made sure to seas the day, enjoying the surf as the world rushed by around them.
Relaxed mum-of-three Zara, 42, a medal-winning Olympic equestrian heroine, donned a £30 bikini while Rugby World Cup winning Mike, 45, slipped into a pair of budget black swimming shorts.
The chivalrous sportsman even held out a blue-and-white striped towel for his adoring wife as she stepped out of the warm ocean and onto the beach in New South Wales.
The couple’s Oz adventure rekindled happy memories of their fledging romance – and Mike’s appearance in I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! In 2022.
Yorkshire-born England hero Mike met his future wife, the daughter of Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, in a Sydney bar celebrating England’s famous victory over Australia in 2003. They became engaged in 2010.
The couple, who live in a seven-bedroom farmhouse on the Gatcombe Park Estate in Gloucestershire, married in Scotland in 2011, three months after Prince William and Kate Middleton, and share children Mia, 9, Lena, 5, and Lucas, 2.
The no-nonsense former rugby hardman was long ribbed by royals for his wonky nose, repeatedly broken during a 20-year career, early in their relationship. But the dependable and doting dad later became a firm favourite, particularly of the late Queen.
Despite playing in dozens of high-profile games, including the nail-biting final won by Jonny Wilkinson’s extra time drop goal, he previously spoke of getting “nervous” in the Queen’s company.
He said: “I did get sweaty palms when I first met the Queen. I think anyone would. She’s such a legend of a lady.” He stood vigil as her coffin lay in state before her funeral in 2022.
The couple, who are not working royals, stayed on in Australia after appearing at The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival, one of the country’s richest and most renowned horse racing meetings, and shared their beach trip with Prince Harry’s best friend Nacho Figueras and his wife Delfina Blaquier.
