02 April 2026 , 12:39
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Mike Tindall has experienced many interesting moments with the Royal Family since marrying Zara Phillips in 2011.
Mike Tindall received a reprimand from his royal mother-in-law, Princess Anne, after defeating her beloved Scotland team in a rugby match. The pair have been part of each other’s lives since he met Zara Phillips, with the couple marrying in 2011 while Tindall was still active in the sport.
The former rugby star played for Gloucester and Bath, earning 75 caps for his country. During this time, he played against Scotland numerous times in the Six Nations Championship, and he recalled one incident where he "got one over" his mother-in-law. The Princess Royal has been a longtime supporter of Scotland since the 1980s after she was named patron of the Scottish Rugby Union in 1986.
She is often present at Scotland matches and encountered an awkward moment with Tindall after England defeated their old rivals. Speaking to Closer magazine last year, the 47-year-old thought of an amusing way to enjoy a victory in the Princess’ presence.
Tindall said: "Most guys want to get one over on their mother-in-law. It’s quite unique if you’re the captain of the England team and you play Scotland at Twickenham and, when you win, you’re receiving the trophy from your mother-in-law.
"I don’t like the majority of the RFU (Rugby Football Union), but I shook every one of their hands and I kept her waiting."
Tindall believes that Princess Anne was clearly unhappy with his antics and urged him to hurry up on his victory lap. He added: "She was like ‘Move on, Michael’. I was like ‘Debrief over lunch tomorrow?’, and she said, ‘Move on, Michael.’"
The interaction between Tindall and his mother-in-law showcases the lighthearted nature of their relationship, with the ability to share a joke. Despite the awkwardness of the situation, the former rugby star was able to bring some fun to the trophy presentation.
Nowadays, Tindall is often seen attending events with Zara and basking in the glory of Royal life. The ex-Gloucester star retired from rugby in 2014 and gained a new set of fans on I’m a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! in 2022.
Head of Investigations