Prince William may still be estranged from his younger brother, Prince Harry, but he appears to have found an unlikely source of brotherly support within the wider royal family: Mike Tindall.

The former England rugby international, who turns 48 on October 18, has developed a notably close relationship with the Prince of Wales, 44, and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales. His easygoing personality, irreverent humour and longstanding friendship with the couple have made him a familiar presence around the family.

His connection with William extends beyond royal gatherings. Mike has also established a close relationship with Prince George, the future king’s eldest son, taking on something of an uncle’s role in the young prince’s life.

With William eventually expected to become king, the Tindalls’ popularity has prompted speculation about whether Mike and his wife, Zara, could assume greater responsibilities within the monarchy or even be offered official titles. However, their independent careers and long-standing preference for life outside the royal institution may make that prospect more complicated than it first appears.

The nickname that reveals William and Mike’s easygoing friendship

Mike, who married Zara Tindall, 45, in 2011, is known for his playful approach to royal life. Even the future king has not escaped his teasing.

During an episode of his podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, which he co-hosts with James Haskell and Alex Payne, Mike revealed that he had given William the nickname ‘One Pint Willy’ because, in his words, the prince ‘is not the best of drinkers’.

William appeared to take the joke in good humour, later explaining that Mike had apologised for revealing it.

‘I was like, “Mike, when you say you’re not going to mention anyone’s nicknames that doesn’t mean you can then mention my nickname. That’s not fair,”‘ the Prince of Wales recalled.

The banter is characteristic of their relationship, in which the formality often associated with royal life appears to give way to genuine familiarity.

Catherine has also found herself on the receiving end of Mike’s jokes. Speaking to The Times, he revealed that the Princess of Wales had yet to beat him at beer pong.

‘The Princess of Wales hasn’t beaten me at beer pong yet. I’ll keep giving her the opportunity to, though,’ he said.

‘She’s very competitive but she needs to work on her technique.’

William and Catherine have both appeared on Mike’s podcast, where they have laughed and chatted with him in a relaxed atmosphere. Their comfort around the former rugby player reflects a friendship that has developed well beyond their shared connections to the royal family.

A special relationship with Prince George

Mike’s bond with William extends to the next generation, particularly Prince George, 13, who shares his interest in sport.

Zara is George’s godmother, while body language expert Darren Stanton previously told Hello! magazine that Mike appeared to occupy an important uncle-like position in the young prince’s life.

Their affection has occasionally been captured in public. On Christmas Day 2024, Mike was photographed ruffling George’s hair before kissing the side of his head.

In an interview with The Telegraph earlier that year, published while he was promoting his podcast, Mike spoke about George’s enthusiasm for football.

‘George loves his football. I’ve played numerous times in the garden with him,’ he said.

The young prince is also passionate about Aston Villa, according to Mike, who explained that George will sit down to watch the team’s matches wherever he happens to be.

Their relationship has drawn attention because Mike offers George a perspective shaped by a sporting career of his own, rather than by royal expectations.

Royal biographer Robert Jobson suggested this summer that Mike had become something more significant than a conventional godparent to the young prince.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jobson said Mike was willing to discuss losing with George, a subject he believed other adults around the future king might be reluctant to raise because they were so invested in his success.

‘Mike has lost in front of eighty thousand people. He can be funny about it the next morning,’ Jobson explained.

He pointed to photographs of Mike with his arm around George’s shoulders, leaning towards him and talking without any apparent formality.

‘No airs and graces about the man, and the child worked that out years ago,’ he added.

For Jobson, Mike’s sporting experience and unpretentious manner give him a valuable role in George’s upbringing, allowing the young prince to spend time with an adult who understands both success and disappointment.

The Tindalls and Wales children have grown up together

The close relationship between the two families has developed over many years.

Zara and Mike’s eldest daughter, Mia, was born in January 2014, just six months after Prince George. Princess Charlotte arrived in 2015, followed by Lena Tindall in 2018, the same year Prince Louis was born. The Tindalls’ youngest child, Lucas, arrived in 2021.

With their children growing up at similar ages, the families have regularly spent Christmases, holidays and other royal occasions together.

The friendship between the adults has continued away from public engagements, too. Mike and Zara have remained close to William and Catherine while maintaining their own family life and professional interests.

Zara, 18 months older than William, also grew up alongside him. The pair spent summers in Scotland and Christmas Day at Sandringham, giving their relationship roots that stretch back to childhood.

Although Zara and Mike do not hold the formal royal status enjoyed by some members of the family, their place within its inner circle has never appeared to depend on titles.

Could Zara and Mike receive royal titles when William becomes king?

The Tindalls’ popularity has fuelled speculation about whether their position might change when William succeeds King Charles.

Princess Anne, Zara’s mother, currently ranks as the most popular royal in YouGov’s figures cited by the Daily Mail, with 67 per cent. Catherine follows on 64 per cent, while William stands at 62 per cent. King Charles ranks fourth, Zara seventh and Harry tenth.

Zara’s public standing is reinforced by her achievements outside royal life. She was named BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2006, an award her mother has also won.

Jobson argued that Anne’s decision not to accept royal titles for her children, Zara and Peter Phillips, was a particularly astute one.

When William and Catherine selected George’s godparents in 2013, they chose seven people, mostly longstanding friends, with Zara among them as the family member by blood.

Jobson said Anne’s refusal of titles for her children had initially been interpreted as characteristic contrarianism. He believes it was a far more considered decision.

The absence of official titles did not prevent Zara and Peter from remaining closely connected to Queen Elizabeth II’s family. Instead, Zara has been able to combine her royal connections with a life and career largely independent of the institution.

That balance could become increasingly valuable when William takes the throne.

Jobson believes the future king will eventually reduce the number of working royals and cut the cost of maintaining the institution. In that environment, people who can move comfortably between official family occasions and ordinary private life could be especially useful.

He described Zara’s ability to switch between those worlds as one of her greatest strengths.

She attends significant occasions when the family needs her, whether a balcony appearance, a Jubilee or a funeral, before returning to her own work and her passion for horses.

According to Jobson, she manages both sides of her life without fuss or resentment, a quality that distinguishes her from relatives whose livelihoods depend more directly on the monarchy.

He also argued that William will need people around him whose warmth is genuine rather than professional, particularly after decades spent in an institution where relationships can be shaped by duty and public expectations.

Mike, a former world champion in his own right, fits that description in Jobson’s assessment. His achievements came before he married into the royal family, and he has never appeared particularly impressed by the status that accompanied the relationship.

Why the Tindalls appeal to a changing monarchy

The question of royal titles has become more prominent following changes in the status of other members of the family.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was stripped of his titles in 2025, while Harry and Meghan agreed to stop using their His and Her Royal Highness styles in 2020.

When William becomes king, he may need additional support from members of the wider family, particularly if Anne, who has long been known for her demanding workload, eventually decides to reduce her commitments.

The Tindalls could be well placed to help, although their existing independence is an important part of their appeal.

Giles Kenningham, former head of press at No 10 Downing Street, told The i that the monarchy’s continued relevance depends in part on whether the public considers its members relatable and feels able to engage with them.

‘The Tindalls work very well on that level,’ he said, pointing to their independent careers, financial independence and conduct.

He added that they did not have the kind of public image associated with people regularly leaving bars in an embarrassing state.

Their approachable reputation allows them to maintain a connection with the public without relying entirely on formal royal duties.

For a future king seeking to keep the monarchy relevant while reducing its size, that could be an advantage.

Mike has already rejected the prospect of a royal title

Despite the speculation, there is little evidence that Mike and Zara are eager to take on formal royal status.

Mike has previously told Closer magazine that he would turn down a royal title if one were offered to him.

Zara has similarly spoken positively about her mother’s decision not to give her a title, describing it as ‘the right thing to do’.

Their position reflects the life they have built together: one that allows them to remain connected to the royal family while continuing to pursue their own careers.

There has nevertheless been speculation that Zara could receive a different kind of responsibility under William’s reign, particularly given her longstanding involvement with horses.

Some insiders have suggested that she might be offered the patronage of the royal stud at Sandringham, a role that could draw on her equestrian background without necessarily requiring her to become a full-time working royal.

Jennie Bond, the BBC’s former royal correspondent, told OK! magazine that Zara’s passion for horses, combined with her public appeal, would make such an appointment a natural fit.

‘Like her mother, she lives and breathes horses – she’s also extremely glamorous and well-liked, and it would be a perfect fit,’ Bond said.

For now, however, this remains speculation rather than a confirmed plan.

From rugby star to ‘the Lord’

Mike’s royal connections have even earned him a nickname among his former rugby teammates.

In a 2023 interview with The Times, he revealed that he was known as ‘the Lord’, a name that originated when he began dating Zara while playing for Gloucester.

‘I gained it at Gloucester when I started dating Zara. It stuck,’ he explained.

The nickname offers a humorous reminder of how Mike entered one of the world’s most scrutinised families without abandoning the personality and sporting identity that defined him beforehand.

His career with England brought him 75 international caps, and he was part of the team that won the Rugby World Cup in 2003. Those achievements gave him an identity independent of his marriage, something that has continued to shape his public image.

His relationship with Zara has allowed him to become a familiar face at royal events while retaining a reputation for humour, independence and an uncomplicated approach to life.

Will William’s reign bring a bigger role for the Tindalls?

The Tindalls appear to embody qualities that could prove useful to a monarchy seeking to adapt to changing public expectations.

They are well-liked, financially independent and comfortable around the royal family without appearing consumed by its traditions. Mike’s friendship with William and his relationship with George have also given him a place within the family that extends beyond his marriage to Zara.

Yet those same qualities may explain why a formal royal role is not necessarily the next step for them.

Becoming working royals would bring greater responsibilities and potentially reduce the privacy they currently enjoy. Mike has already indicated that he would reject a title, while Zara has made clear that she supports her mother’s decision to keep her children untitled.

Their future involvement in royal life may therefore depend less on whether William offers them new positions and more on how much they are willing to take on.

For now, Mike remains a trusted family member, a successful former rugby international and a close companion to the Prince of Wales. Zara continues to balance her place in the royal family with her own independent pursuits.

Whether that arrangement changes when William becomes king remains uncertain. What is clear is that the Tindalls have established a position within the family that does not depend on official titles, and their combination of royal connections and independence could prove valuable in the years ahead.