Mike and Zara Tindall are one of the most beloved royal couples. The Olympic equestrian and the ex-England rugby player are perhaps best known for their down-to-earth personas on the royal circuit - and their obvious love of sport.
Zara is, of course, the daughter of the Princess Royal Anne and her first husband Captain Mark Philips, the niece of King Charles III. When Mike met Zara back in 2003, there was no way he could of known that he would be meeting the love of his life.
Yet the couple have been together for over 20 years now and they share three children, with no sign of their tight bond dwindling.
WATCH: I'm A Celeb's Mike Tindall reveals 'boozy' first date with wife Zara
The team at HELLO! is taking a deep dive into their incredible love story spanning over 20 years. From how they met and when they got married, to their three children.
MORE: Revealed: Mike Tindall's incredibly close bond with the royal family
RELATED: The Queen's 11 royal wedding rules for Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more brides
How they met
Zara and Mike reportedly crossed paths during the 2003 Rugby World Cup, where the rugby aficionado was set to play, while the equestrian was on a gap year with friends. The couple met at the Manly Wharf bar in Sydney, with the duo immediately hitting it off.
In an interview with Australian television programme, 60 Minutes, Zara explained how the Yorkshire-born rugby star was drowning his sorrows after being dropped from the England squad before the semi-finals. "It kind of went from there," she revealed.
© Julian HerbertWhen Mike went on I'm a Celeb in 2022, he revealed to his campmates: "I was at the World Cup, she was out watching. I got dropped from the semi-final," he said. "I was [expletive] off and so I went for a beer with another guy who got dropped and a guy who was over [in Sydney].They'd met her before and they introduced us and then got chatting from there."
The now-retired rugby player added in a Daily Mail interview that it was actually Austin Healey who gave him Zara's number, stating: "'She wants you to text her, to say where you're all going out after the final so she can come along.'"
The couple had a relaxed first date, Mike revealed on I'm a Celeb: "First actual date, just went out for lunch locally. And ended up being quite a boozy one. Then we figured out that we both quite like getting smashed. It was a good start."
© Tim GrahamBack in the UK, their relationship thrived. Zara took their relationship to the next level when she invited him to join her at the North Cotswold Ball. By 2004, the besotted couple became "official" and Mike was often spotted appearing at public events with the Royal. Around 2005, the couple were regularly photographed out and about together.
Mike’s proposal
Mike was formally introduced to Zara's mother, Princess Anne, and after a brief stint on the Gatcombe Park estate, the duo relocated to Cheltenham in 2009.
Mike popped the question in December 2010 after five years of dating. Speaking to HELLO! In 2009, the rugby player teased: "I don't think it is about whether we will get married but when."
© Stefan Rousseau - PA ImagesMembers of the royal family were delighted by the special announcement. At the time, Buckingham Palace released a statement which read: "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."
Mike opened up about his decision to get down on one knee. "I was upstairs, plucking up the nerve to do it, while Zara was downstairs watching television," he told The Daily Mail. "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 with a ring and popped the question. Her reaction? "She started laughing", Mike revealed. "She was in complete shock. Then, when she stopped laughing, she said yes. That was a relief."
Of course, he'd been thinking about it for ages, but other family engagements seemed to come first. "My brother got engaged, and so did a certain Duke of Cambridge. I thought I'd better get on with it."
© AFPWhen he proposed, Zara was reportedly "very happy" with her dazzling engagement ring. The sparkly ring has an estimated worth of £140,000 and was carefully selected by Mike based on a handful of prompts.
© WPA PoolZara's statement sparkler features a stunning round diamond with a split platinum band complete with pavé set diamonds. Mike deliberately selected a single solitaire diamond with a low-profile setting in light of Zara's equestrian career.
Per the Royal Marriages Act 1772, the late Queen Elizabeth II had to give her consent to their marriage in a meeting with the Privy Council in May 2011, two months before the couple were set to marry.
The wedding
The couple tied the knot at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh in July 2011, and the ceremony was attended by senior members of the royal family including the late Queen and the late Prince Philip, Prince William and Prince Harry.
Zara and Mike went on to hold their wedding reception at the Queen's official Scottish residence, Hollyrood Palace, where her mother would stay while she was at Gordonstoun.
© Mike MarslandOn the day, Zara looked stunning in an ivory silk dress fashioned by designer Stewart Parvin, one of her grandmother Queen Elizabeth's favourite couturiers. Her gorgeous gown featured a fitted bodice, sheer straps and a full skirt.
© Photo: Getty ImagesShe paired her wedding dress with a precious Greek tiara that previously belonged to her mother, Princess Anne. The family heirloom includes a brilliant-cut diamond surrounded by a glittering wreath.
First child born
In 2014, Mike and Zara welcomed their first child, a daughter called Mia. At the time, Mike shared news of his daughter's name via Twitter. In a break from tradition, he casually penned: "For everyone who has asked what our daughters name, it's Mia Grace Tindall [SIC]."
© Matthew HorwoodFamily life
Later in 2018, the couple welcomed little Lena Elizabeth. The doting parents initially wanted to name their daughter Elena, but decided against it after realising it would make her initials ET. Zara made the revelation when speaking to the Telegraph in 2018, saying: "I liked the name Elena but I didn't want her initials to be 'E.T.' so she's Lena."
© Steve Parsons - PA ImagesThe tot was also a record-breaking baby at the time and was the heaviest royal baby in recent history, clocking up 9lbs 3oz on the scales at the Stroud Maternity Unit.
© Max Mumby/IndigoIn March 2021, Zara and Mike welcomed their third child, a baby boy named Lucas Philip. Recounting the dramatic birth story, Mike explained how little Lucas "arrived very quickly".
Sharing the news on his podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, Mike added: "Sunday got even better because a little baby boy arrived at my house."
He explained Lucas "arrived very quickly". He added: "Didn't make it to hospital. On the bathroom floor."
© Max Mumby/IndigoHe told listeners: "So yeah, it was running to the gym, get a mat, get into the bathroom, get the mat on the floor, towels down, brace, brace, brace."
I'm A Celeb
In 2022 Zara supported her husband as he entered the jungle for I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! As someone who has been in the public eye her entire life, the equestrian had some good advice: "She said to go and enjoy and be yourself", he explained. But apparently she did worry that he might concern fellow campmates with his loud eating. "She will be very happy if someone comments about how loud I breathe when I eat because it's always a point that she brings up.”
He added: "Zara gets it and supports it – with both our careers, she goes away competing for weeks at a time and I always went on tours for three, four weeks in the summer, so our relationship has always been built to deal with that and we’re good at compartmentalizing and finding ways to deal with it."
© @mike_tindall12When he was voted out of the jungle, they enjoyed a heartfelt reunion. He wrote on Instagram: "Reunited!!! Back to normality and time to eat!!! Thanks for all the kind messages! It was a blast!"
