Mike Tindall has revealed the high-profile royal event he says can be a “nightmare” – especially during a heatwave.
The former rugby union player, who is married to Princess Anne‘s daughter Zara Tindall, appeared on the Luxury Dispatch podcast with Tom Chamberlin on Tuesday.
He often attends popular events in the royal calendar, though he is not a working member of the royal family.
Mike, 47, admitted that Royal Ascot, which traditionally takes place in Berkshire in June, can be a “nightmare” due to the soaring temperatures and formal clothing the family is required to wear.
“It’s a bit of a nightmare, the sweat is,” Mike revealed, adding that he doesn’t take his hat off as there’s a “pool of water that drops out”.
The carriage procession
He also opened up about taking part in the official carriage procession, a prestigious tradition dating back 200 years.
Mike said: “That British history, that is the history we are trying to continue. The royal procession down the course is still a standalone feature of what happens at Royal Ascot.”
Describing the experience, he said: “You jump in cars, the fleet of cars that they use are very old, very historical, good old-fashioned sort of cars.
“I don’t know how many schools you go past, it always seems to be a load, and the children out and wave their British flags, and I’m thinking, that’s great.”
The carriage ride takes around 20 minutes from start to finish, ending at the Great Park, he explained. Afterwards, the carriages turn into the stadium, and the national anthem plays. “It’s quite special,” Mike said.
Mike and Zara at Royal Ascot
Mike and Zara, 45, first attended Royal Ascot together in 2007, four years before their 2011 wedding. Their romance dates back to the 2003 Rugby World Cup, where they reportedly met at a bar in Sydney and hit it off.
© GettyThe Tindalls now attend the racing festival most years and have a shared love of horses. Equestrian Zara, who has inherited her love of horses from the Princess Royal, is an Olympic medallist eventer.
In 2024, they even shared a cheeky embrace at the festival, with Mike placing a hand on his wife’s derriere.
© GettyLast year, they were spotted chatting with Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, while Zara shared a hug and embrace with her uncle, King Charles.
The couple also spent time with Zara’s brother, Peter Phillips, and his bride-to-be, Harriet Sperling, who are getting married next month.
Mike and Zara have three children, Mia, 12, Lena, seven, and Lucas, five.
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