Mike Tindall reveals he and Prince George play ‘football in the garden’ together and sheds light on Kate Middleton’s favorite sport

Mike Tindall has revealed his close bond with Prince George, and even shed light on the Princess of Wales’ favorite sport.

The former rugby player, who is married to King Charles’ niece Zara, is known to have a close relationship with the young royal, and affectionately tore his hair during the Christmas Day service in December.

In a new interview with The Telegraph to promote his podcast The Good, the Bad & the Rugby with James Haskell and Alex Payne, Mike noted that George “loves” playing football and is a huge Aston Villa fan as the his father, Prince William.

She also shared a sweet insight into her relationship with the 11-year-old, saying they often play together.

Mike, 45, told the paper: “George loves his football. I’ve played with him many times in the garden.

Mike Tindall has revealed that he and Prince George ‘play football in the garden’ together. Image in December

“He’s also a passionate Aston Villa fan. Wherever he is, he’ll sit down and watch that game.

And giving an insight into the Princess of Wales’ favorite sport, he added: “They’re just a sports-loving family. Catherine loves running.

The Princess of Wales has a Previous engagements enjoyed abseiling, tennis, soccer and even a foot race with her husband Prince William and his now estranged brother Prince Harry.

In recent weeks, he has been slowly but steadily returning to engagements after completing his chemotherapy treatment, visiting victims in Southport with his husband and meeting teenager Liz Hatton at Windsor Castle.

Football fan George has attended a number of football matches with his dad in the past, including an Aston Villa game in April and the Euro final in July.

Prince William is known to enjoy a ‘bromance’ with Tindall, so it’s no surprise that Mike is also close to his eldest son.

Mike said the young royal “loves football” and, like his father, Prince William is a huge Aston Villa fan

Prince George and Prince William watching Aston Villa play Nottingham Forest in March 2023

George and William faced bitter disappointment after watching Spain and England play in the Euro final in July

Giving an insight into the Princess of Wales’ favorite sport, Mike added that she ‘loves to run’ (pictured in 2017)

Speaking to The Times earlier this year, a royal source dubbed Mike, 45, and Zara, 43, “the glue of their generation of royals, no matter how serious the occasion”.

“They can help take the family’s mind off the gravity of what’s going on,” they added.

“While some members of the family can be very ‘royal’, Mike is just himself and is relaxed and playful with George, Charlotte and Louis.

“It helps that they all have children of the same age who can play together in private and bring a sense of normalcy to a stressful situation for everyone involved.”

Mike interviewed William for his podcast – The Good, The Bad and The Rugby – last year.

There, the Prince of Wales revealed that Zara’s victory in equestrian competitions was the only time he had been moved to tears while watching sports.

During the discussion at Windsor Castle, the father-of-three said: “The only time I’ve ever cried watching sport was when Zara won, I think it was the European Championship.

Sociable Zara also cracked up talking to Prince William and his mother-in-law Carole yesterday

“I was camping on Exmoor at the time. We were all huddled around the phone looking at it. She was there and she was erasing the flag going up. It was in pieces.

Also on the podcast were William’s wife, Kate and Zara’s mother, William’s aunt Princess Anne, herself an accomplished equestrian.

Continuing the discussion, Kate said: “I can remember because you came back and said I’ve never been so proud of anyone.”

William, along with his brother Harry, were brought up in Gloucestershire, just a few miles from where Zara and her brother Peter Phillips grew up. The four royal cousins ​​were often seen chatting and joking at royal events.

Although Zara and her husband Mike don’t officially work with the royal family, it seems they’re still making their way into Charles’ inner circle.

Mike Tindall and William may seem like an unlikely couple, but the pair often crack up sharing a joke at royal events and can’t resist a hug when they’re seen in public.

William, heir to the throne, was educated at Eton before completing his degree at St Andrews. He prefers football to rugby, which was more his brother Harry’s sport.

Mike attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield, becoming a professional rugby player for Bath at 18.

However, the couple are also hands-on parents and enjoy catching up at the polo or the races, where they often greet each other like the one he caught on camera.

William and Mike have been pictured looking couple-like at several public engagements, with the former England rugby player supporting the royal at polo matches in the past.

It’s clear the pair are on such good terms that Mike felt comfortable enough to poke fun at the future king in a recent podcast, saying he calls the heir to the throne “One Pint Willy” because “he’s not the best of drinkers.”

Both have also been with their wives for nearly 20 years: Tindall was 25 when he and Zara performed at the World Cup in 2003. William and Kate met at university.

Zara, in particular, also maintains a close bond with her cousins ​​Eugenie and Beatrice, whom she often hugs and pecks at high-profile royal events.

Pictured: Zara, Eugenie and Kate Middleton were pictured chatting together at Royal Ascot in 2019

Kate, Zara and their daughter Mia share a warm moment in 2015 as they attend the Gigaset Charity Polo Match at Beaufort Polo Club.

Pictured: Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn arrive for a vigil in honor of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall on September 17, 2022.

It looks like Zara and Kate are getting on really well too, with plenty of photos of the pair hanging out as a quad and the two mums being snapped laughing together or in conversation at events.

An emotional moment between the duo was at the 2012 Olympics, when Kate was seen enthusiastically shaking hands with Zara, who won a silver medal as part of the competition team.

Zara, in particular, also maintains a close bond with her cousins ​​Eugenie and Beatrice, whom she often hugs and pecks at high-profile royal events.

Social media shy Beatrice made a rare post on X in 2022, to show her support for I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! period, dubbing her “eldest” cousin’s husband.

Mike has also poked fun at the royals, mocking his wife and Eugenia’s colorful outfits earlier that year in a humorous Instagram post comparing them to Starburst wrappers.