Mike Tindall and Prince William share a close friendship, often seen laughing together at events like Royal Ascot.
William also has a strong bond with his cousin, Zara Tindall, Mike’s wife, making it natural for William and Mike to enjoy each other’s company.
Additionally, their children have grown close, with Prince Louis and Mia Tindall seen walking together during last year’s Christmas outing to Sandringham.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward, speaking to the Telegraph, explained that Mike’s down-to-earth nature has further strengthened the pair’s bond.
“Mike Tindall has that kind of sportsman camaraderie that would especially appeal to William, who was once a wild boy himself,” she told the publication.
“Mike gets funnier under the influence of alcohol and can be totally outrageous. William cannot do this anymore as he is too aware of his responsibilities. But he can live vicariously through Mike.”
Dickie Arbiter, a former spokesperson for Buckingham Palace agreed with this, telling the Telegraph in a separate interview: “They are two peas from the same pod, they’ve just had different upbringings.”
Such is their camaraderie, that William, alongside his wife, Princess Kate, was a guest on Mike’s rugby podcast, The Good, The Bad and the Rugby ahead of the Six Nations tournament.
“Me, my brother and then a few of Zara’s side like her brother Pete [Phillips] and the cousins are on WhatsApp groups,” he shared. “I wouldn’t say we’re cutting edge, but it’s just easier for some reason on WhatsApp.
“It’s just what you do to try and set up get-togethers and we are going to something that is the same. If you are going to go, [we discuss things like] ‘Are you going to take the kids?’ Quite a lot of people have family WhatsApp groups.”
Revealing William’s reaction on his rugby podcast, Mike shared: “I spoke to the Prince of Wales about it and he said ‘Great, go have fun’.”
Mike’s bond with William extends beyond the Prince of Wales to his children as well.
At Sandringham, Mike was seen wrapping his arm around Prince George, and during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, he kept Prince Louis entertained with playful ‘watching you’ gestures.
