Advertisement

Mike Tindall says private royal cousins' lunch was Platinum Jubilee highlight

Mike and Zara Tindall leaving the National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul's Cathedral, London, on day two of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth II. Picture date: Friday June 3, 2022. (Photo by Aaron Chown/PA Images via Getty Images)
Mike Tindall reveals highlights of jubilee celebrations, pictured here with wife Zara Tindall leaving the Service of Thanksgiving on Friday. (PA Images via Getty Images)

Mike Tindall has shared his stand-out moments of the Platinum Jubilee weekend celebrations, including a special royal lunch.

The rugby star, 43, who is married to the Queen's granddaughter Zara Tindall, shared some details as he returned to work for Wednesday's instalment of The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast.

"It was outstanding, to be fair. It was just great to be a part of," he told his co-host Alex Payne.

Mike Tindall and Zara Tindall watch the racing from the royal box as they attend The Epsom Derby at Epsom Racecourse on June 4, 2022 in Epsom, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Mike Tindall and Zara Tindall watch the racing from the royal box at The Epsom Derby. (Indigo/Getty Images)

When asked what his most special moments were, he laughed, "We had a good cousins' lunch on the Thursday! That was a highlight!"

On Thursday, Trooping the Colour kicked off the celebrations as the first event of the weekend.

With moments including the colour (the battalion flag) being trooped (or carried) and a military parade, as well as senior members of the Royal Family making a traditional balcony appearance, it seems at some point some of the royals gathered for a memorable lunch.

Read more: Mike Tindall was an unexpected star of the Platinum Jubilee weekend

Tindall added, "Outside of that, the concert was very, very cool. And going to the Derby for the first time was a unique experience that I enjoyed. And who knew that wearing your missus' hats would actually be a thing!"

Zara's known for being close to her cousins, including Prince William and Prince Harry.

Also among the family are Peter Philips, Zara's brother (44), Princess Beatrice (33) and Princess Eugenie (32), daughters of Prince Andrew, and Lady Louise Windsor (18) and James, Viscount Severn (14), daughter and son of Prince Edward.

While it is unknown who exactly attended the "cousins' lunch" on Thursday as Tindall references, royal editor Rebecca English responded to Daily Mail's diary editor Richard Eden's Tweet asking if Harry and Meghan went.

"I don’t believe they did," she said. "The Sussexes returned straight to Windsor."

Prince George of Cambridge, Zara Tindall and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend the Platinum Pageant on The Mall on June 5, 2022 in London, England. The Platinum Jubilee of Elizabeth II is being celebrated from June 2 to June 5, 2022, in the UK and Commonwealth to mark the 70th anniversary of the accession of Queen Elizabeth II on 6 February 1952. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Tara Tindall peaks her head through to chat to Prince William and Prince George at the Platinum Pageant on The Mall. (Indigo/Getty Images)
Britain's Prince Harry (C) and his wife Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, speak to Zara Tindall (R) at the end of the National Service of Thanksgiving for The Queen's reign at Saint Paul's Cathedral in London on June 3, 2022 as part of Queen Elizabeth II's platinum jubilee celebrations. - Queen Elizabeth II kicked off the first of four days of celebrations marking her record-breaking 70 years on the throne, to cheering crowds of tens of thousands of people. But the 96-year-old sovereign's appearance at the Platinum Jubilee -- a milestone never previously reached by a British monarch -- took its toll, forcing her to pull out of a planned church service. (Photo by TOBY MELVILLE / POOL / AFP) (Photo by TOBY MELVILLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in high spirits with Zara Tindall at the Service of Thanksgiving. (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

William and Kate were prominent figures of the jubilee celebrations, present at events over all four days, which also included the Service of Thanksgiving on Friday, the Platinum Party at the Palace on Saturday and the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on Sunday.

Read more: The Cambridges bring out their fun side for the Platinum Jubilee Party at the Palace

Mike and Zara Tindall watches daughter Mia get a hug from Prince William, Duke of Cambridge at the Maserati Royal Charity Polo Trophy at Beaufort Polo Club on June 11, 2017 in Tetbury, England.  (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Mike and Zara Tindall watch as daughter Mia gets a hug from Prince William, pictured here at the Maserati Royal Charity Polo Trophy at Beaufort Polo Club, 2017. (WireImage)

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan were involved in their first official event since they decided to step back from their royal duties in 2020 when they attended the Trooping of the Colour. While they didn't take part in the carriage procession or make a balcony appearance, they watched from the Major General’s office out of the limelight.

However, they also attended the Service of Thanksgiving, which was the first time the pair have been seen in public with William and Kate since their departure.

Their children, Archie, three, and Lilibet, who turned one on Saturday, weren't in attendance, though stayed in Frogmore Cottage in Windsor with their parents for the duration of the trip.

Read more: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle release rare photo of Lilibet on her first birthday

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge smiles as Mike Tindall gestures to Prince Louis, while attending the Platinum Jubilee Pageant, marking the end of the celebrations for the Platinum Jubilee of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in London, Britain, June 5, 2022. Chris Jackson/Pool via REUTERS
Kate laughs as Mike Tindall gestures to Prince Louis while at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant. (Jackson/Pool via REUTERS)

While speaking on the podcast, Tindall also acknowledged Prince Louis – the youngest of the Cambridge children – stealing the show. Of course, the moment of him giving the four-year-old the 'Im watching you' gesture while they watched the Pageant form the Royal Box was one of the stand-outs.

"Louis, he was just wanting to have fun," he explained. "And my two are always mischievous so it's trying to keep a lid on. There were a lot of sweets out back though, so there was a real sugar high."

He added, "It's tough for them. They're all young… it's a long time. But as any parents knows you just do whatever needs to be done."

Mike, Zara, and their two eldest children Mia, eight, and Lena, three, were sat directly behind the Cambridges at the Pageant. The pair also share a baby son, Lucas.

Watch: Cheeky Prince Louis steals the show