28 September 2023 , 12:42
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They are one of the most popular royal couples and are known for their very public displays of affection.But Mike Tindall has opened up with a candid confession about marrying King Charles' niece Zara - and noted the biggest misconception people have about their relationship. The former England rugby player opened up about his marriage in the ITV show Gamechangers, which is currently being aired.
The show sees members of England's rugby World Cup winning squad of 2003 head into HMP The Mount in Hertfordshire to train a team of prisoners for a match against an Australian team. And in one piece to camera during the documentary, Mike opened up about his life after he retired from rugby - and the pressure of finding work.
Mike Tindall with his wife Zara (UK Press via Getty Images)Speaking candidly, he explained: "Everyone thinks that just by marrying Zara that means it's all fine and dandy… But that doesn't stop the fact that you need a job. And it's not that easy, you know - you get quite institutionalised into rugby, it's a way of life and you leave the game and that's not there.
"I don't think you can ever sort of describe when you're so used to being around that many people, and understanding, because of it being ingrained in you, where you fit in to then not being that person. Zara would say if she was honest it was probably a year it took me to figure out what I was, who I was going to be. You've got to then go carve where the next path is - you can never replace going to work with 35 of your best friends every day."
The couple at Royal Ascot earlier this year (Dave Shopland/REX/Shutterstock)Zara, a granddaughter of the late Queen, and Mike married in July 2011 in a beautiful ceremony in Edinburgh surrounded by their nearest and dearest, which included the former monarch and the Prince and Princess of Wales, who themselves had tied the knot just months earlier.
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Their relationship started in 2003 after the pair were introduced by her cousin Prince Harry at the Rugby World Cup in Australia. They announced their engagement in 2010 and on her wedding day, Zara wore a stunning wedding dress by Stewart Parvin - a favourite designer of the late Queen.
After the church service, the royal family and other guests headed to Holyroodhouse for the evening reception. Speaking about their romance, Mike previously said: "I've never been in love before, but Zara is the love of my life. No doubt." In 2014, they welcomed their first child, a daughter called Mia who is now nine, and have another daughter called Lena, aged five. In 2021 they welcomed their first son, Lucas Philip, with Zara giving birth on the bathroom floor at their home in Gloucestershire.
Earlier this year, Mike paid a cheeky anniversary tribute to Zara by sharing an unexpected photo of the pair with a nod to one of the summer's biggest movies. He wrote: "Thanks for the messages, it’s been a great 12 years. Feel we are getting younger!!!" He accompanied the message with a laughing face emoji and the hashtag #ZarbieandTen as well as a photo of what he and his wife would look like if they were Barbie and Ken dolls.