The sportsman has so far embraced jungle life with a carefree attitude. Last week, we saw the campmate perform a hilarious rendition of Boom Boom Shake the Room and on Sunday, Mike sparked an online frenzy with his tiny “bikini bottoms”. Need we say more…
A shared passion for sport
Over the years Mike and Princess Anne have bonded over their love of the sport. Whilst Mike is a former member of the English squad, Princess Anne is an ardent supporter of the Scottish rugby team. The Princess Royal rarely misses a home match and has even travelled abroad to support her national team.
Despite their common love for the sport, it turns out Princess Anne wasn’t such a huge fan of Mike’s broken nose. According to the professional rugby player, Princess Anne even asked him to have surgery ahead of his wedding to Zara in 2011.
The former rugby player has broken his nose eight times
Reflecting on his mother-in-law’s request, Mike added: “It was a light-hearted, jokey comment. It wasn’t a big deal. Look at my nose – can you blame her?”
Life at Gatcombe Park
Mike and Zara live a stone’s throw away from Princess Anne on her sprawling Gatcombe Park estate. The couple has their own family home which they share with their three children, Mia, eight, Lena, four and baby Lucas, one.
The estate is a convenient location for the Tindall family, with equestrian Zara having many of her horses stabled there. The couple has a new open-plan kitchen and dining room, a luxurious home gym and a smart home office where Mike recorded his podcast during the lockdown.
The Princess Royal lives in the main Grade-II listed home with her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, 67. Princess Anne’s son Peter Phillips, 44, also lives within the grounds of the 700-acre estate, along with his daughters Isla, ten, and Savannah, 11.
In a sweet tribute to Zara and Mike, Princess Anne has decorated her private home with a plethora of joyous family portraits. Among them is a stunning photo of her daughter Zara on her wedding day. Zara and Mike tied the knot on 30 July 2011 at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh and the ceremony was attended by all senior members of the royal family.
Behind palace walls
I’m a Celebrity fan will no doubt be hoping to gain an insight into the royal family via Mike’s appearance on the hit show. Despite James Haskell saying Mike will “mind what he says”, the former rugby player has lifted the lid on some of the royal family’s lighter moments.
On Monday’s episode, Mike confessed he had to walk away from Princess Anne at Zara’s 30th birthday bash after his trousers split. The former rugby player told his fellow campmates Seann Walsh and Babatúndé Aléshé that he was dancing with the Princess Royal when his flared trousers ripped, unfortunately revealing his boxers.
Recalling the mortifying incident, Mike said: “Zara had like a 30th birthday, it was a disco ’70s-themed one. I was dancing on the dance floor, I had like flares on, full outfit but it was quite tight, nothing ever fits – rugby player’s bum and legs – so I was dancing with my mother-in-law and I did a [expletive] drop in front of my mother-in-law.”
He continued: “Ripped my trousers, straight in front of her. It happened to be that the boxers that I had on at that time said ‘nibble my nuts’.” His words prompted applause from Seann and Babatúndé.
He added: “As I’ve turned round, she’s gone, ‘I’d rather not.’ I’ve gone, ‘Yeah I’m going’ and walked off.”
