Caption: I’m A Celebrity: What is Mike Tindall’s relationship with the Royal Family? 1 hr pre tx Monday

Mike Tindall is making I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! history as the first member of the Royal Family to appear on the reality show.

The former rugby star, who is married to Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall, is joining the likes of Boy George, Chris Moyles, and Jill Scott in the jungle, and he’s already impressing fans after his ‘action man’ performance in Sunday’s launch.

Viewers will be hoping for some insight into the Royal Family, but Mike’s friend James Haskell admitted he’ll ‘mind what he says’ on the show, particularly as ‘part of one of the most famous and best families in the world’.

While Mike told us his wife has ‘been really good’ with his decision to sign up for the show, he’s remained tight-lipped about other members of the family.
He added: ‘I had a few conversations but they’re between me and them.’

The 44-year-old sportsman has often been pictured looking to be on great terms with most of the family, including an adorable interaction with young Prince Louis during the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Celebrations earlier this year.

Here’s what we know about his relationship with some key members of the royals.

Zara Tindall

Mike is married to Zara Phillips, the daughter of Princess Anne (Picture: Wire Image)

We’ll start off with a simple one – Mike Tindall’s wife Zara, whom he married in 2011.

The couple went on to have three children together: Mia, born in January 2014; Lena, born in June 2018; and Lucas, born in March 2021.

Upon joining the family, he previously said: ‘I can only say how kind they’ve been to me, and how welcoming they’ve been to me since joining the family. And how they’ve made my family welcome.’

I’m A Celebrity could be tough, as it’ll ‘probably be the longest time’ he’s had away from his wife and children, as he recently admitted: ‘And then not having communication, that will be the hardest bit.

‘But also you get your head around what you are doing and try to win some stars. I want to win stars because I want to eat.’

Princess Anne

Mike and Princess Anne shared an avid passion for sports (Picture: Getty)

Mike has long been on good terms with his mother-in-law, Princess Anne.

They’re both keen sports fans and love rugby, with Mike previously representing England in the 2003 World Cup, while the Princess Royal is an avid supporter of the Scottish national team.

Mike once admitted Princess Anne even teased him about his nose after a career in rugby and told him to get a nose job before his 2011 wedding, as he explained: ‘It was a light-hearted, jokey comment. It wasn’t a big deal. Look at my nose – can you blame her?’

Prince William and Duchess Catherine

He is close to William, Kate, and the kids (Picture: Getty)

Zara and Mike are close to Prince William and Duchess Catherine, with Mike and Willaim frequently seen hugging each other as a greeting, and sharing a laugh.

Speaking on his The Good, The Bad, and The Rugby podcast over the years, he’s shared some sweet stories about the Prince and Princess of Wales, including wanting to mock Kate for her rugby skills after she became the new Patron of the Rugby Football Union.

He said: ‘I text Ellis [Genge] and said, “Mate, please tell me anything she messed up on”, so I could sort of, family WhatsApp group, get into her.

‘And he said, “No she was actually pretty good, and she was really good at kicking”. But she has this competitive nature where she has to be good at things.’

The close bond extends to their children too, with Mike pictured directing a playful ‘I’m watching you’ hand gesture at Prince Louis as his mum laughed at the attempt to keep her son under control.

Queen Elizabeth II

Mike previously hailed Queen Elizabeth II as ‘an amazing’ woman (Picture: Getty)

Mike was thought to be on fantastic terms with Queen Elizabeth II before her tragic death in September aged 96.

‘I’ve always felt part of it and I think that’s down to what an amazing woman the Queen is. They’re a fantastic family,’ he previously said.

Back in 2019, he made everyone – including the monarch herself – laugh at Royal Ascot when he took off his top hat and revealed a much smaller hat hidden inside.

‘I have loads of regrets about not asking her so many more things and having nervousness when you get that lucky seat to sit next to her,’ he recently said on his podcast. ‘I was starting to get to that point but I hadn’t barrelled in – I know you would have barrelled in.’

Prince Harry and Megan, Duchess of Sussex

The retired rugby star joked the royals would like to punch Prince Harry (Picture: Getty)

Although Mike and Prince Harry have been pictured together in the past, last year he joked that the royals would like to punch Harry during an appearance on A Question of Sport.

Speaking at the event in September 2021, winger Iain Balshaw thought it would be funny to throw a few punches at the prince to see how long it would be before his protection officers intervened.

Mike quipped: ‘At Balmoral, the family are now having the same conversation. Except the Queen has taken his security away.’

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

Mike and Zara enjoyed a ‘cousins’ lunch’ with Beatrice and Eugenie earlier this year (Picture: Getty)

Mike’s also known to get on well with Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, and he loved getting the chance to catch up with them over the late Queen’s Jubilee celebrations.

He revealed they ‘had a good cousins’ lunch on the Thursday’ in June, and described the meet-up as a ‘highlight’.

The royal family’s line of succession stipulates that Zara – named on the list as ‘Mrs Michael Tindall’ – is 20th in line to the throne, with her three children following, while Mike isn’t on the line of succession, having married into the royal family.

Does Mike Tindall have a royal title?

Neither Mike nor Zara have royal ranks or titles, with neither of them participating in royal duties.

Instead, Zara focused on becoming a successful equestrian and even won silver at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

While Mike will be careful to avoid giving away too much in the jungle, viewers will still be excited to get a bit more of an insight into his relationships with the various royals.

I’m A Celebrity continues tonight at 9pm on ITV.

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