Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall have been married for nearly 13 years and together for nearly 20 and they are one of the most popular Royal couples in the UK
Zara Tindall and her hubby Mike have been a delight for Royal fans since their first meeting in Australia in 2003. The daughter of Princess Anne and her first husband, Mark Phillips, was enjoying her gap year, while Mike was part of the victorious England rugby team at the World Cup.
Their spark was unmistakable and fast forward to now, they are contentedly living in Gloucestershire with their young family, although they choose to keep their three kids – Mia, Lena and Lucas – out of the spotlight, according to the Express. They continue to chase their careers in the sports world, with Zara being an equestrian and Mike co-hosting a rugby podcast – The Good, The Bad and The Rugby.
In this piece, let’s look back on some of the most heart-warming moments from the early days of their romance, as the pair gear up to celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary on July 30.
READ MORE: Zara Tindall could get royal role as King Charles favours ‘down-too-earth’ niece
Mike Tindall and Zara Phillips, as she was then known, were spotted at Cheltenham Festival in 2005 when their relationship was still fresh. They tied the knot in 2011 and have since welcomed three children together, all born in Gloucestershire, Mia, Lena and Lucas.
They are one of the most beloved Royal couples due to their affectionate yet grounded attitude and sense of humour, reports the Express.
Zara and Mike have never been ones to avoid a PDA (public display of affection) and back in 2005 they were caught sharing a tender moment at the Gatcombe Horse Trials.
Mike, while on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here! , shared a tale of how he first met his future wife two years prior in Sydney at the Manly Wharf bar. He was nursing his wounds after being dropped from the England rugby squad when his evening took a turn for the better.
The Tindalls have always been each other’s biggest cheerleaders, both excelling in their respective sports. Zara was part of Team GB’s Olympic equestrian team and bagged a silver medal at London 2012.
Mike, too, had an illustrious rugby career with Gloucester and England before hanging up his boots. The couple has always been there to support each other, making them absolute relationship goals.
Equestrian trials and festivals have always been a significant part of Zara and Mike’s social life, even as far back as 2008. They are often seen walking their dogs, another animal cherished by the Royal Family alongside horses.
Currently, Zara and Mike are proud owners of two black Labradors, Storm and Pepper, who are mother and daughter, and a Brindle Boxer named Blink.
In 2009, Zara and Mike were spotted chilling on a yacht during the Artemis Challenge race in August. Despite the high-octane activity, the couple managed to find time to relax and enjoy each other’s company on the sunny day.
The next year, Mike popped the question to Zara. Their wedding followed just a few months after Prince William and Kate Middleton, now known as the Prince and Princess of Wales, tied the knot.
Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall made headlines in 2010 when they announced their engagement after seven years together, with a charming photo from their official photo call making the rounds.
The Royal family released a statement saying: “The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Zara Phillips to Mr Mike Tindall, son of Mr Phillip and Mrs Linda Tindall.”
The couple exchanged vows on July 30, 2011, at Canongate Kirk on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, in a ceremony attended by the creme de la creme of the Royal Family, including Zara’s grandmother, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Post-nuptials, it was business as usual for the sporty duo, though they managed to squeeze in a honeymoon trip to Cyprus three months later.
Christmas Day 2013 saw Zara and Mike enjoying their last festive season as a duo, with their firstborn, Mia Grace Tindall, arriving hot on the heels of the new year on January 17, 2014, at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
That Christmas at Sandringham, a heavily pregnant Zara and an ever-smiling Mike joined the rest of the royals, adhering to the tradition that only spouses can spend Christmas with the Royal Family a rule that Megh an Markle would later bypass before her May wedding to Prince Harry.
Mike was spotted pushing a three-month-old Mia in her pram alongside wife Zara at the SYMM International Horse Trials in Hambleden, England on April 20, 2014. Tragically, after announcing her second pregnancy in November 2016, nearly three years after Mia’s birth, the couple revealed on Christmas Eve that they had suffered a miscarriage.
Despite this, the family has since welcomed two more children, Lena Elizabeth on June 18, 2018 and Lucas Philip on March 21, 2021. The Tindalls continue to reside on Princess Anne’s estate in Gloucestershire.
