Former rugby star Mike Tindall opened up to The Times about what it is like being a part of the Royal family. He and his wife Zara Tindall are under a bit less scrutiny than her cousins but still find the pressure intense.
Mike Tindall On Being A Royal Member
Queen Elizabeth II's grandson in law has always been a fan favorite, considering he was a rugby star and enjoys the benefits of not holding royal titles like being able to swear in interviews! He told The Times, "[Being part of the royal family] has its benefits and it has its negatives. You think about what you do and you have to be aware of, but it doesn't necessarily dictate."
"Zara and I have always been good at getting on with what’s right for us."
Mike recently spilled the beans on his podcast The Good, The Bad & the Rugby that he and wife Zara are expecting a new baby! This will make 7-year-old Mia and 2-year-old Lena big sisters!
He said, "I'd like a boy this time, I've got two girls, I would like a boy. I'll love it whether a boy or a girl, but please be a boy!"
He told The Times, "It was always an interesting question whether we'd go for a third and I think both of us wanted a boy, so hopefully we'll get one. We're not finding out — I think it's better that way. At the end of the day, you're just happy if it's got 10 fingers and 10 toes and it's healthy. And Mia's such a daddy's girl, it's been brilliant. I've loved having girls."
When Mike married the daughter of the Queen's only daughter Princess Anne, he was slowly integrated with the rest of the Royal family. He explained to the Sunday Times Magazine: "We'd go on a Friday night to watch the match and stopover at Zara's [place]. Sometimes, we'd all go out for lunch with Zara's mom [Princess Anne] on Sunday before we went home."
"We spent quite a bit of time with her dad [Mark Phillips] too. Prince Harry would often be around watching the rugby. So, slowly and quietly, we got to meet them all — and that’s how it went on for quite a few years."
Mike, along with Sarah Ferguson, has admitted to being a fan of The Crown! On his Podcast, he said, "I need to catch up. I actually saw the advert for [the new season] and I was like, 'Ooh, I need to catch up!' Because I only got about halfway through season three, so I started watching season three last night and then I'll catch up."
"I'm quite intrigued to see where they go with it because obviously, it's an era people are fascinated with [because of Princess Diana]. It's getting to more things that people know about, isn't it, and have opinions about - so that's where it gets difficult."
We can't wait to meet the newest baby Tindall! The baby will have a lot of cousins born this year too!