Mike Tindall has opened up about how the royal family “got together overnight” after the Queen’s death.
The ex-England rugby ace, who is married to Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall, also revealed he is “full of regrets” at not asking the Queen any further questions during his time with her.
Tindall reflected on his relationship with the Queen in a special episode of his podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby.
Mike Tindall has opened up about how the royal family “got together overnight” after the Queen’s death.
Tindall reflected on his relationship with the Queen in a special episode of his podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby
The ex-England rugby ace, who is married to Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall, also revealed he is “full of regrets” at not asking the Queen any further questions during his time with her
He said: “It was sad, emotional but happy. Amazing in a way. Seeing the family get so close overnight.
“You can never predict it. As a 96-year-old woman, you know it’s going to happen, but you’re never ready for it when it happens.
“When she saw what Zara was going through, she obviously loved the Queen more than anything. Their connection to horses, they had a real bond with them.
“It’s like the world somehow lost its grandmother.”
He continued, “I also really regret not asking her so many more things… If you’re nervous about sitting there, you get the lucky seat of sitting next to her.”
“Going back through history and everything it may have seen; 15 prime ministers, I don’t know how many presidents.
Mike, 43, told fellow podcast hosts James Haskell and Alex Payne that the world had “lost its grandmother” in some way
James Haskell (left) admitted he woke up with a “dull ache” in the days after the Queen’s death and even shed tears at the news
“To get through everything, when she meets dictators, she has to remain neutral, she has to do her duty.”
Later in the podcast, he said the royal family was “blown away” by tributes from members of the public.
“You’re expecting a burst of love, but I think as it was, the world sharecroppers who walked in accepted their invitation without question. Came right back and said, “Yes, we’re coming,” he said, adding that there was “no jostling for positions” between the hugely important guests.
Speaking about the Queen’s funeral arrangements, which she was consulted on before her death, Mike revealed he had been told a story (although he couldn’t verify it) about the plane that was carrying Her late Majesty’s coffin back from Scotland London should fly.
He said the plane originally intended to transport them was too small and instead officials suggested a larger plane, which was used to bring the bodies of soldiers back from Afghanistan.
Upon hearing this, the Queen reportedly wrote a note that read, “If it’s good enough for my boys, it’s good enough for me.”
Mike added, “It kind of sums them up that it was ‘their boys’.”
As fellow podcast hosts James Haskell and Alex Payne admitted they shed tears following the Queen’s death, James said he “woke up every single morning with … a dull ache inside” that someone so remarkable had died.
He added: “For me she was the greatest role model and she was the best of us.”
Discussing the Queen’s state funeral, which was attended by around 2,000 heads of state, foreign royals and civilians, Mike admitted the family didn’t necessarily realize how big the televised event – watched by an estimated 4 billion people worldwide – was until he turned on the Highlights later.
Mike Tindall officially became part of the royal family in 2011 (pictured on his wedding day to Zara Tindall), but he revealed he first met the Queen at school in 1992
He added it was “positive” to be part of the funeral because so many people showed unity as they lined up to pay their respects to Her late Majesty.
Mike also lauded the Queen’s strength in keeping some parts of herself a secret from the rest of the world – for example how Her late Majesty sat alone at the funeral of her beloved Prince Philip.
He said: “Because of the state of the pandemic at the time, it made the real statement to everyone else – unfortunately our government wasn’t looking – as he needed to be.”
The ex-England star appeared to be referring to reports that a party was being held at 10 Downing Street the night before the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral.
Although Mike officially joined the royal family in 2011 when he married Zara, he revealed that he had actually met the Queen 19 years earlier in 1992 when she was visiting his school, the Queen Elizabeth Grammar, to celebrate its 400th anniversary.
“I think I was in a science class and she walked in … turned on the Bunsen burner,” he said. “Then I have to say hello to her.”
As the royal family and nation adjust to new monarch King Charles, Mike reveals that old habits die hard.
“I nearly curtseyed to the king the other day,” he said. “I just ran after my wife, I saw her curtsy and thankfully not… it was a lower bow.”
He added that he “styled it alright” and hopefully got away with it.
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