Sweet bond between Zara and William's children since Harry and Meghan drift
Prince William and Zara Tindall have long shared a tight bond, and now their close friendship as cousins has been passed down a generation.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five, while Zara and Mike Tindall share Mia, nine, Lena, five, and Lucas, two. The second cousins - who are just years apart - often attend royal events and socialise together.
As per tradition, the Tindalls and the Waleses came together to attend the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene's Church this year. Louis was spotted smiling and holding hands with Mia as they walked, and Charlotte and Mia appeared very close, giggling in conversation at Sandringham.
The Waleses and the Tindalls are known to have a close bond with William and Zara growing up together (REX/Shutterstock)Mia's little brother Lucas stayed at home, while her younger sister Lena was pictured walking behind William and Kate, holding hands with her mum and dad. Former England rugby player Mike was later captured affectionately ruffling Prince George's hair after the service.
Like many families, the festive period brings the two young groups of siblings together, as they take part in annual royal traditions. Zara's husband Mike once gave an insight into the senior royals' Christmas dinner, and how they tuck into a three-course lunch to celebrate the festivities.
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The dad-of-three revealed the kids enjoy their own separate dinner, away from the grown-up family members. "There must be about 70 of us there. There are seven tables and then the kiddies have their own little one in a different room," he told JOE UK's House of Rugby podcast.
Despite being directly descended from royalty, the Tindall kids do not have official titles and it's incredibly unlikely that they'll ever reign as monarch, with Lucas 22nd in line to the throne. However, this doesn't hinder their close friendship, with William and Zara - who were born just a year apart - known to get on well.
William and Zara are first cousins and born just a year apart, and have a WhatsApp group with their families (PA)While Princess Eugenie has a strong bond with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and has reportedly enjoyed holidays with the couple since they left the UK, it's believed the Tindalls once-close relationship with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex has cooled in recent years.
Earlier this year, Prince William revealed the only time he'd ever cried while watching sports was when Zara was competing. The future King told The Good The Bad and The Rugby: "The only time I've ever cried when watching sport was when Zara won I think it was the European championship. I was down in Exmore at the time camping."
He continued: "We were all huddling around the phone watching it. She was there she was blubbing away the flag was going up. I was in pieces." During the discussion, Kate added: "I can remember because you came back and said I've never been so proud of anyone."
William and Harry grew up in Gloucestershire, just a few miles away from Zara and her brother Peter Phillips, and the four cousins were often spotted hanging out together at royal events. The Prince of Wales has previously admitted how it was "hard to keep a straight face" when sitting opposite them in church. Decades later, they all share a WhatsApp group to keep in touch.
William and Mike are good pals and the future King relies on Zara to relate to his pressures as a royal (James Veysey/REX)"Me, my brother and then a few of Zara's side like her brother Pete and the cousins are on WhatsApp groups," Mike once revealed. "I wouldn't say we're cutting edge, but it's just easier for some reason on WhatsApp." He later added: "It's just what you do to try and set up get-togethers and we are going to something that is the same."
It's understood William regards his friendship with Zara highly and the pair have become protective of each other over time. In Channel 5's documentary, Zara & Anne: Like Mother Like Daughter, royal commentator Victoria Arbiter said: "For William in particular, trust is everything so when you've got a cousin that understands what it is to be a member of the Royal Family, but they don't have the same pressures associated with it, they can be a tower of strength and support."
She continued: "It's Zara's loyalty and total dedication to her family that has made her such an asset to the cousins who have had to endure the negative side of royal life." And it's not just Zara who William is close with, but her husband Mike too. Mike recently poked fun at the future King in a podcast, revealing he calls him 'One Pint Willy' because "he is not the best of drinkers".
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