Zara Phillps’s husband, Mike Tindall has revealed it was a ‘sliding doors’ moment when he first met his wife of 14 years.
Their paths first crossed in Australia – a country they now regularly return to for holidays – during the 2003 Rugby World Cup that was won by England.
In a new interview, the former rugby union player has revealed what it was really like when he first laid eyes on his wife Zara, the daughter of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips.
Speaking to Aussie golfer, Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley, Mike, 46, said he had a lot of ‘good memories’ Down Under and holds the country close to his heart.
‘I met Zara there, we won the World Cup there,’ he recalled, weeks after they celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary on July 30.
When asked to describe how he and Zara met, he said: ‘During the World Cup. It’s always the sliding doors moment in the fact that I got dropped for the semi-final and I met her that night.’
Now considered one of the royal family’s most loved-up couples, romance sparked one night at the Manly Wharf bar in Sydney – though Mike has since admitted he didn’t make the best first impression.
They locked eyes and started chatting while at the bar, where Mike was drowning his sorrows after being cut from the England World Cup squad while Zara was on a gap year.
The loved up royal couple first met in Australia, a spot they now regularly return to, during England Rugby World winning campaign in 2003. Pictured on their wedding day in 2011
Zara Phillps’s husband, Mike Tindall has revealed the ‘sliding doors’ moment when he met his wife of 22-years. Pictured in 2022
Speaking to HELLO! magazine, Mike previously said: ‘When we met, I basically only said hello. I didn’t really even talk to her because I was, as I said, I was still quite down.’
Mike shared details of their first official date when he appeared on I’m A Celebrity in 2022.
He said at the time: ‘First actual date, just went out for lunch locally. And then ended up being quite a boozy one. Then we figured out that we both like getting smashed. It was a good start.’
During his time in the jungle, Mike admitted that they were initially just friends, telling fellow campmate Owen Warner of how he first met her cousins, Princes William and Harry.
‘We were friends first and then William and Harry were massive England fans at the time, so we’d met them numerous times.
‘Met more of the family than you’d normally have met of the woman you start dating.’
Now, in a recent interview, the former rugby union player has revealed what it was really like when he first laid eyes on his wife, the daughter of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips
Speaking to Aussie golfer, Wayne ‘Radar’ Riley, Mike, 46, said he had a lot of ‘good memories’ Down Under and holds the country close to his heart
Romance blossomed and within their first year of dating, Zara had invited her new beau to join her at the North Cotswold Ball.
In 2008, Mike called Princess Anne a ‘legend’ and said that Zara’s father, Mark Phillips, was ‘lovely too’.
He said at the time: ‘My mates in Wakefield are forever asking how I fit in among the Royal Family but they are really down to earth.’
A year later, they were officially a couple and then in 2010, officiated their relationship by getting engaged.
Speaking to HELLO!, the rugby player said: ‘I don’t think it is about whether we will get married but when.’
He continued: ‘I was upstairs, plucking up the nerve to do it, while Zara was downstairs watching television.
‘It was all about shock value – I wanted to catch her when it was quiet, and she wasn’t expecting anything.’
The couple were at home, when he walked in and got down on one knee.
Romance blossomed and within their first year of dating, Zara had invited her new beau to join her at the North Cotswold Ball
In 2008, Mike called Princess Anne a ‘legend’ and said that her father, Mark Phillips, was ‘lovely too’
Speaking to HELLO! the rugby player said: ‘I don’t think it is about whether we will get married but when’
Their first daughter, Mia Grace, was born on 17 January 2014. A statement at the time read: ‘Mrs Michael Tindall today safely delivered a baby girl at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital
Now considered one of the royal family’s most loved up couples, romance sparked one night at the Manly Wharf bar in Sydney
‘She was in complete shock,’ Mike recalled. ‘Then, when she stopped laughing, she said “yes”. That was a relief.’
Releasing a statement at the time, the Royal Palace said: ‘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.’
Two months later, they say ‘I do’, holding their wedding reception at the late Queen’s official Scottish residence, Holyrood Palace.
Their first daughter, Mia Grace, was born on 17 January 2014. A statement at the time read: ‘Mrs Michael Tindall today safely delivered a baby girl at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
‘Mr Tindall was present at the birth.
‘The weight of the baby was 7lbs 12oz.
‘The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Princess Royal, Captain Mark Phillips and Mike’s parents, Mr Philip and Mrs Linda Tindall, have been informed and are delighted with the news.’
Posting on Twitter, Mike wrote: ‘Thanks so much for all your kind messages.
‘Definitely the best day of my life today, so happy! The girls are both doing great!’
Four years later on 18 June 2018, Lena Elizabeth was born, the couple’s second daughter.
The baby broke royal records when she was born, weighing an impressive 9lbs 3oz.
Her first name, Lena “was just a name they liked”, representatives at the time said, but Elizabeth was a clear reference to Queen Elizabeth II, with whom Zara shared a close bond.
Then came Lucas Phillip, their first and only son, on 21 March 2021. During an episode of The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast, Mike revealed they Zara gave birth of their bathroom floor.
Royal fans were shocked in 2022 when Mike appeared on I’m A Celebrity, but fans adored him and he ended up coming in in fourth place.
He met Zara on the famous drawbridge at the end end of the show, the royal running towards her husband to greet him with a hug.
