While the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the York princesses got the most attention during Royal Ascot, it’s also worth noting that Zara Tindall (formerly Zara Phillips) and Mike Tindall were also there on Day 1, and they were greeted with laughs, smiles and hugs all around. There were some really lovely photos of Zara warmly embracing her favorite uncle, Prince Charles, and Charles’ biographer went on the record about how fond Charles is of his niece, and how they’ve always had a special bond. I didn’t know that Charles actually suggested Zara’s name to Princess Anne! That’s kind of cool that Charles pretty much named his niece. Anyway, did you also know that the Queen adores Zara and Mike? It’s true.
Pulling off his shiny top hat to reveal a tiny replica version at Royal Ascot, Mike Tindall effortlessly caused the Queen to erupt in chuckles last week. Her Majesty, 93, is very close to her eldest granddaughter Zara Tindall, 38, and her ex-rugby union husband Mike, 40 – and a royal expert claims she has a “tighter bond with them than she does with Kate and William”.
Ingrid Seward, Editor-in-Chief of Majesty Magazine, told Fabulous Digital that the Queen likes to be around the Tindalls as they seem more “normal” than the Cambridges. Ingrid, who is the author of My Husband & I – the story of the Queen and Prince Philip’s 70-year marriage, said Her Majesty is so close Zara as are neither are “intellectuals”.
She added: “The Queen has always adored Zara and is so proud of her riding success. They have a lot in common as they talk horses and the Queen has invested in several horses for her.”
Ingrid said that the Queen may even prefer Zara and Mike Tindall as they are care-free and separate from the current “royal dramas”. She explained: “They are certainly light relief. She can be herself around them and she does not care for the alleged feuding among William and Harry. That would make her very sad. But she would never interfere with their lives.”
Ingrid said: “I think the Queen is closest to Zara and Peter as they were her first grandchildren and have always been the favourites. She’s at her most relaxed around them; as a child she used to give Zara a smack around the legs when she was naughty, which was frequently. The Queen gets on well [with Prince William and Kate], but don’t have the same kind of easy-going giggly time with her as Zara and Mike do.”
To be fair, I don’t think anyone in the royal family is really considered an “intellectual”? Maybe Charles – he seems very well-read and thoughtful and bookish, but the rest of them are not intellectuals. But the point is that Zara and Mike really are the “normal blokes” of the royal family, probably because they’re NOT royal. Princess Anne actually did that right, not allowing her children to have titles. Zara is a great example of a successful and well-adjusted royal-adjacent. Anne and Zara both have that down-to-earth quality, so it’s little surprise that the Queen adores both.
Photos courtesy of Getty, Avalon Red, WENN.
It seems that Zara and Mike are the favorite relatives. They seem to be quite popular with every single branch of the Windsor family.
I can’t help but wonder how much of this is BS. I find it hard to believe that the Queen, as a mother and grandmother really favours one couple over the rest of her family. She might get on well with them and the dynamics are probably different but to really have favourites, seems like an unhealthy thing in a family.
It’s unhealthy, but it happens all the time. And the Queen has already shown marked favoritism to Andrew among her children, so it’s not out of the blue. That stuff about riding — that rings pretty true, considering how the royal family initially adored Sarah Ferguson for similar reasons.
And it might not actually be favoring them over the rest so much as she has a very different relationship with Zara and Peter, since their behavior (or her behavior toward them) doesn’t reflect directly back on the monarchy.
Sorry, but isn’t she the one who was rolling her eyes heavenward at the black pastor’s sermon during Meghan and Harry’s wedding?
Yes, I was just thinking about that too. Ugh.
I wasn’t aware of that. Went on a google search to see if it was captured for the Image page, but I’m mostly struck by how heavily pregnant she was (and in heels!). I feel like there’s some context here. Third trimester, friends of mine were struggling just to get through the day.
That’s what they all were thinking. She may have been liked internally even more for her racism
Tris, she later said she was so uncomfortable, and that everytime she thought he was done, he kept going. It was somewhat rude, but she was also 9 months pregnant. And to be fair, the pastor had been allotted 6 minutes and went on for about 20.
@Tris I haven’t forgotten! Not only did she roll her eyes but laughed mockingly at him.
He took off his top hat to reveal a tiny replica top hat??? He had a mini hat under there the whole time?? No wonder she likes them best, that’s hilarious. They do seem fun loving.
To be fair I also think that TQ’s relationship with William has to be more formal as he will be inheriting the family business and she takes that very seriously.
It is in fact-hilarious. Sent both the queen and Sophie into giggles.
https://www.instagram.com/p/By2rxFYlmpW/?igshid=v02k2rf5a1cy
It was a chocolate ‘royal ascot’ hat containing 2 truffles, which he was taking home for Mia.
https://www.charbonnel.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/17f82f742ffe127f42dca9de82fb58b1/d/s/dsc_0691.jpg
Well Willy is going to ultimately inherit it all so he doesn’t necessarily have to have the best relationship with the Queen. The Queen let him slack off his duties for years too. So don’t cry for him Argentina, LOL.
I would be surprised if he ever becomes King tbh. By the time that happens, it will likely have become obvious that he’s a lazy, entitled brat who has to be dragged to work. People are more inclined to support the monarchy now because of loyalty to HM. Charles works hard and as such will likely be able to keep it going. But William? Nah. By then loyalty to Elizabeth will have faded and people will have tired of the bullshit.
The monarchy may cease to exist, but opinion polls for what they are worth, show William is quite popular with Brits, which is the only thing that matters. Granted Harry is more popular, but William is not far behind and both are way more popular than Charles. I mean there was a time not too long ago where Brits wanted to skip Charles entirely and go to William. I think Charles leaves a bad taste in the public’s mind cause of Diana. I think a lot of the woke people on here like Charles cause of his climate change position, which is admirable, but they don’t remember the Diana fiasco as well. Most Brits especially older ones remember. Older ones are a big reason why Britain has Brexit and we have Trump side note. I know William has been work shy, but he does do a fair amount of events now, more than Harry believe it or not, and neither brother has had a scandal that even compares to Diana with Charles or Andrew and his too many to go into. They had a few youthful transgressions, and they were trying to make Williams supposed affair into a thing but it just didn’t have the legs of stories and tapes of Camilla and Charles and tampons stories back in the day. Both boys are kind of tame in gossip terms. If not for the hate Meghan racist crap the gossip columns would be pretty light. I feel like the Brits will keep the monarchy, just let it have less money and pared down, and I just doubt Charles will live as long as his parents either. It’s just not that likely.
Torontoe-agree that the Queen doesn’t have to be as formal with Zara and Mike, so their relationship is easier. They aren’t second in line to the throne as William is, so not so much pressure on them. Plus they both seem very at ease and also a lot of fun. The Cambridges are neither.
I was my grandmother’s first grandchild (one of six) and I was always closer to her than the rest. Perhaps it has to do with being the first? Maybe they just ‘get’ each other (like me and my gram did)
I’m the same. I’m also most like my grandmother which she finds both frustrating and amazing. She’s an argumentative lady at times ahha – and I think I’m the only one who she’s backed off from an argument with. My aunts have both said I have that same “spark” that nan has.
But – I was the oldest of 4 grandkids, two live away. I also spent a lot of time with her when my brother was born because I was a handful and she was retired and SUPER interested in babysitting me.
For the royal family – I think this is probably a good reason why. I also think there’s a point to be made that Zara is so separate in so many ways from the others. They’re not all working together, the queen doesn’t feel like she needs to supervise her. I think it takes pretty much any and all of the normal relationship strains away.
I’m the youngest of the grand kids and was the closest with my grandmother. She died a few years ago one month away from her 103rd birthday! Man I miss her all the time. She always called me “the little’un” even when I was well into my 30s
As a grandmother, I have to agree that there is a very special relationship with the first grandchild and the youngest one that continues to flourish throughout the years. There is something magical about becoming a grandmother. Your life becomes focused on that tiny little person and then you discover your childhood once again. Life becomes a beautiful, magical place and it’s truly unconditional love without the fear or guilt a parent feels. Life becomes lighter…I am very fortunate to have two grandkids, both girls. it’s rather bitter sweet I will not have more. Two weeks ago my daughter had a hysterectomy, a few months ago she had a miscarriage which alerted the doctors to a mass in her uterus. She’s going to make a full recovery.
OR: That’s super sweet. Aint no love like grandparents’ love. <3
Zara isn’t the first. Peter is. But you may be right in that she’s the first granddaughter. The fact that Zara (and Peter as Anne’s kids) is the most “normal” of them may also be part of it since she has more of the life that HM would have had had her uncle not abdictated. Plus, Zara just seems the most chill by nature. It’s not surprising that she seems to get along with everyone.
Both Peter and Zara seem to be such normal, well-adjusted people with happy families and relationships. Anne made a very smart choice keeping them distant from royal life and it shows.
I also think that because they are the children of her daughter there is a special bond. I think it is easier to be more involved in a different capacity with a daughter’s kids than a daughter-in-laws’s kids.
I just read below and someone else already suggested this, sorry!
@Oh-Dear Okay, so about a month ago, when Archie was born, I was piled on for questioning why Kate would be more excited about the baby’s birth than William would be since it was his brother’s son and Kate was an in-law. I said this because one of the writers said that Kate would probably be more excited than William, and, no she didn’t say it was because of William’s alleged feud with Harry. Anyway, I was literally told I was crazy for saying this, and some even insinuated that I was a bad person for pointing this out. Yet, on this thread, people are agreeing that it’s easier to be more involved with a daughter’s kid than an in-law’s kid. People are also agreeing that grandmothers have favorite grandchildren. But I was told there is no difference between in-laws vs. blood relatives at all and there is absolutely no favoritism in families. Go figure.
I’m just pointing this out because the reaction was so disturbing I considered no longer visiting this site, which I have read for years.
Yup, this is my thought as well.
I’m my grandmother’s eldest grandchild and also her daughter’s daughter. Of all her grandkids, I’m closest to her.
Same.
I loved the photos of Zara and Mike at Ascot. They seem so fun!
Interesting that we take Ingrid Seward pieces depending on which way the wind blows, though.
@Enn – I knew someone was going to bring that up re: Ingrid Seward lol.
I don’t disbelieve her when she is saying stuff like this, about the family dynamics. I disbelieve her when she is ranting about Meghan destroying a piece of history because she got her engagement ring re-set.
But also, I don’t think this story is particularly shocking to anyone. Zara and Mike really do seem to the most grounded (relatively) family members and they do seem to be favorites of most people in that family. If this story was that the Queen HATES zara because of “reasons,” I’d be less inclined to believe it. but this fits with what we generally already knew.
ETA and I guess I’ll clarify that I believe that SHE is freaking out that Meghan changed her e-ring band. I just don’t think anyone else really cares lol.
I believe that was Enn’s point though. We believe this article or that based on what we already “know” so our preconceived bias regarding this royal or that.
Personally I think she’s like most tab writers that read various situations and throws whatever click generating narrative suits her.
The “not intellectuals” line was pure bitchiness.
Yeah, but I guess my point is that there isn’t a whole lot to believe here. Its clear the Queen gets along well with Mike and Zara and seems relaxed around them. Does that make them her favorites? who knows. But I don’t think “believing” this story means that all of a sudden Seward is super credible. This story just makes sense based on what we have seen over the years. Of course that’s bias, but it doesn’t mean its wrong.
But I do agree, the not intellectuals line was bitchy but also kind of head-scratching. Are will and kate super intellectual? Does the Queen only like people who are NOT intellectual? etc.
ETA so if Seward wrote an article about how Camilla loves big hats, and how special big hats are to her, I would “believe” it because we all know Camilla loves big hats lol. But I wouldn’t believe that it meant Seward had inside sources or insider knowledge etc. Does that make sense?
Perfect sense and I agree with every word!
And now I really want a lengthy post with pics dedicated to Camilla’s hats!
I couldn’t decide whether to go with her love of big hats, love of big bling, or love of wine, LOL.
(and to clarify I do think the digs at W&K were stupid and prob not supported, but its the underlying story of Zara as favorite that I can believe.)
@Enn, exactly what I was gonna say. Sorry Ingrid knows zero about the royals, she has no idea who the queen likes the most. Ingrid might like to think she has some inside info but I think she is just full of it. Ingrid is the kind of person Harry referred to in his engagement interview. When the interviewer commented that many people know him, Harry quipped “Or the THINK they know me”. And that article in the sun is just utter BS. Why would Charles or TQ love Meghan or Kate more than their own flesh and blood? They both, respectively, have known Kate for about 8 years and Meghan for barely a year while they’ve known Zara her entire life!!! I just RME at stuff like this! I think Ingrid is just taking guesses and stating the obvious! Zara is HM’s and PoW eldest granddaughter/niece, she lives away from both, has/had no reason to be fighting with any of these 2 or butt heads over some disagreement, none of them was really involved in the day to day disciplinary aspects of Zara’s life except of course occasionally when she visited them, plus Zara seems super nice!! Of course she gonna be the favorite. I’m sure auntie Ann loved her nephews equally as much as the above applies to that relationship dynamics as well.
@salvation – lol. I don’t disagree with your overall points, but you’re basically saying that Seward is right.
@Becks1, I know I’m confusing myself, LOL. I guess what I meant is what you wrote up there. That IS might be correct in her assumption (which she portrays as factual inside info) but that doesn’t necessarily mean she has any inside scoop. It just means she made a more or less accurate guess, just like anyone who’s been following this family would have.
@enn – I just came here to say that! Gotta be consistent – if Ingrid Seward is an unbelievable bitter racist when she writes nasty things about Meghan & Harry, she also thus isn’t credible in anything else, including when she disses Bill & Cathy.
Exactly. I believe nothing from that woman.
Me either, but it’s funny she’s trying to suggest that K&W are the intellectual heavy weights in that family.
She did however, note that the feud was between William and Harry.
Mike and Zara seem like fun people. I think often (not always) grandmothers may be closer to their daughter’s children than their son’s children. I know I’ve seen that dynamic often. There was an old saying: “My son is my son until he takes a wife, but my daughter is my daughter all of her life.”
Very true. This actually makes sense. She may have also felt she could have more fun with them without the constraints of future duty.
You see it already in the way W&K treat George compared to Charlotte and Louis.
I would disagree with this based on past experience. One of my grandmas clearly had favorite grandchildren and they were—surprise, surprise—the children of her favorite son. I can count on two hands the number of times I saw her, and she didn’t die til my late 20s. We never got birthday cards/calls, Christmas gifts, and she didn’t bother coming for visits (that she planned, then blew off). My grandmother basically picked a branch of the family, gave them her love and devotion, and the rest of us just didn’t have relationships with her.
They may be adjusted now but have you forgotten the early stages of this relationship? They had a documented volatile relationship.
Who did? @Sierra of whom do you speak? Zara and the Queen had a volatile relationship? I cannot find any documentation? Thx gh
I wouldn’t want a HRH title either. They look carefree, indulge in their favourite sports, do some charity work and they don’t have full-time jobs now (correct me if I’m wrong). No worries about mortgage or food.
I’d be carefree too 🙂
Exactly.! Also the queen doesn’t have to oversee them as she does her two grandsons and their wives.
I think this is why H&M missed a title for Archie. I think they’re hoping he turns out like Zara and Peter, who are not working royals and seem to have fulfilling lives of their own without the HRH drama.
^^^^^ 100% agree
They really do have the best of both worlds
“not intellectuals” LOL – no one in that family is an intellectual. Is the article calling Zara and Mike dumb, or implicitly saying the Cambridges are intellectuals?
What defines intellectuals from the rest of us I ask. I would feel a bit insulted if someone calls me not intellectual. I feel we all are intellectuals in one way or another.
Yeah, no.
I don’t know if you meant that to be funny Darla, but it was hilarious.
I remember reading an article around when Meghan was marrying into the family, where an “unnamed courtier” said that they felt sorry for Meghan because she would be the smartest person in the room by far whenever the family gathered. Even the courtiers think the BRF aren’t that bright.
I might be reaching, but given how I’ve heard British family and friends use this word, I feel like it’s less calling anyone “dumb” and more likely saying they aren’t particularly bookish or introspective. It can be a kind of backwards compliment, depending — saying they’re more about fun and good times, don’t take themselves too seriously, etc.
I like Zara and Mike but lets not forget that a few years ago there were pap shots published of him drunkenly kissing another women outside a bar.
I can imagine TQ being close to Zara and her brother as she is close to Anne – they all adore horses.
Lastly, I love Mia Tindall – she’s a real character.
There was also cctv footage of him with his head stuck between that woman’s breasts, six weeks after marrying Zara. It all seems to be forgotten now.
I found the interactions odd and maybe induced by adult beverages.
Myra, that’s irrelevant. If the desire to cheat is there, it’s there. HE knew he was married, and yet he was partying with another woman in that way. Sorry, but drinking isn’t a “get out of marriage vows free” card.
Drunk or not I just think he was reckless and very arrogant, six weeks married to the granddaughter of the queen of England, and that is what he is up to, I mean come on.
yeah, i remember that. didn’t he say it was ok cause he was greeting a friend from college…only he didn’t go to one, lol.
We don’t know exactly what happened you just have pictures which can be decieving, and it obviously isn’t an issue now as they have two kids and seem happily married. Some women forgive their husbands for a lot, and isn’t that really up to the woman. Shouldn’t we respect that. Don’t understand why this would be brought up now.
Clarification: referring to Zara and Mike at Ascot not the affair. They seem under the influence of adult beverages. I had no idea Mike was a cheater.
Mike Tindall seems like he would be a lot of fun lol. I can imagine he brings a lot of levity to royal events and probably just cuts some of the royal tension.
And, I can believe that Zara and Peter are her favorite grandchildren (if we buy that she has “favorites” which I think she does.) They were the first, they’re her daughter’s children, and they’re not “royal,” so their lives are different and they have more freedom. I can especially see the queen getting along really well with Zara given the mutual love of horses.
I was going to suggest that they were closest because she is among the older grandchildren, and yes, the article writer pointed that out.
Mike just seems like a good guy. Zara found a good one for sure. I want to see the mini top hat under the regular sized one!
I do not believe for a second that she would never meddle in William and Harry’s relationship.
I think it’s been documented throughout the years that the Queen favors Peter and Zara, and she also adores Sophie. I remember reading somewhere that the Queen and Prince Philip spend the most time with Edward and Sophie’s children.
Zara is so beautiful! She has a fantastic smile.
As others posters have said, why do we believe Seward now? She may as well be wrong about this too.
Anyway, I think there is a very common and obvious reason TQ may like Zara and Peter best—they are her daughter’s children. My grandma says this all the time, never mind how much you love your daughter in law, it is not the same. It must be because as a mother to the “new” mother she must have been more involved in helping/giving advice while the kids were growing up.
I don’t think HM and Kate are close and William is notoriously moody.
Zara and Mike are quite down to earth, they seemingly don’t flaunt their wealth and quite jolly; all qualities which appeal to HM.
Also, I noted earlier in time, in Ascot photos how Kate is towering over Charles. I thought Charles is about 5’10”, but i guess he’s seriously shrinking in his elder years???
Both Ann & Zara depend on TQ for income to a greater or lesser extent. for instance Zara & Peter live on their mothers estate apparently. Will & Harry depend on their Dad for their income & inherited from their Mum. Their relationship with TQ will of course be totally different. Seward is just stating the obvious with her own spin on it. Personally I find it embarrassing the way Philip has just dumped TQ & all royal duties. Not much of the marriage left then eh?
You sound ridiculous. They are 90 something years old. If you can’t do what you want when you are 90 something years old (and have been ill off and on) when the hell can you?
“Not much of the marriage left”. Really?
I just thought she looked very lonely at Ascot. Decades of having a partner at her side. & suddenly it would seem it was all duty & no pleasure. Sad really.
Phillip is 98 years old and in poor health. I don’t think HM begrudges his retirement.
I think she should be with him.
“Intellectual” lol.
In The Crown they touched upon the Queen’s lack of formal education, which she tried to make up for with tutoring on law and history by Oxbridge professors. I am not sure I would call QE an intellectual, but for 60+ years she has met with prime ministers (weekly?), visited charities, toured other Commonwealth countries around the world, and by all accounts more than held her own. She seems to be a genuinely curious person.
I have always thought Charles’s reported fondness of Meghan is based at least partly on the fact that she’s well-educated and seems to be a curious person. The rest of the family acts as if they haven’t opened a book in years.
Zara is an Olympic silver medalist. She has won numerous equestrian awards, usually on horses owned by the Queen. Zara is living and enjoying the life that the Queen herself probably wanted and thought she would have before her uncle abdicated. They have lots of shared interests and probably lots to talk about, especially involving horses.
And before anyone gets in here to throw shade on Zara’s Olympic selection for the London team, I must point out that Zara is a world champion in her own right, solo.
Indeed – Zara got there on her own merit, she has proven herself to be a top notch equestrian.
I’m sure access to TQ stables didn’t play a role
@Myra. Was thinking the same thing. Years ago, I worked for a man who constantly grumbled about his wife’s horses. Even though they lived on enough acreage outside the city to avoid additional boarding costs (which run $500-$1000mo in our area), the upkeep was expensive. One injury ran into well over $15k (the mare had to be transported to Texas A&M to be treated)
The road to an Olympic medal or world championship is much smoother when the athlete doesn’t have to sweat the standard cost of living *plus* the expense of their sport.
People whose family history lacks the royal pedigree are not quickly picked up for endorsement deals to defray those costs & maybe even earn a living. Zara may have worked very hard, but she is also very very privileged.
Literally everyone on the British Olympic eventing team is privileged. It’s not exactly boxing or athletics.
Zara is Boss Lady! i love her personality and her style!
Heh, “not an intellectual”. And saying that about TQ! Such shade from Ingrid Seward! Is she trying to show she isn’t a sycophant? Or that she is critical of all of BRF, not just Megan? Keep trying gurl, keep trying!!
Here is my opinion Ingrid – The Queen loves all her grandchildren and has different relationships with them. It’s petty and ignorant for you to hold up one relationship as better /closer then another but then you do so love saying petty and ignorant things.
I am not a fan of William but do not believe for a second he doesn’t have a very close bond with the Queen.
I’m sure HM loves all her grandchildren — but she has different types of relationships with them, that’s all.
Being that Zara is Anne’s daughter and they all share a passion for horses, then it might seem like the HM is the closest to Anne’s kids. But, Zara and Mike do look like they are loads of fun, and it seems that Mia has inherited that spunk. Remember the photo of HM and her great grand kids and Mia is holding HM’s purse in the photo? I believe HM adores all of her children, grandkids and great grand kids, and that her family gives her the most happiness. She has to shoulder so much responsibility, that her family must be a welcome respite.
Well, of course she does. If I was her I would also prefer to spend time with fun and cool Tindalls than with stuck-up tense Cambridges. Plus, queen adores horses and dogs, just like Tindalls so I assume they have a lot in common.
I am also curious about her relationship with Peter and Autumn. Does Autumn work?
I was my maternal grandmother’s favorite. From what I’ve seen, that’s common along the maternal line – to be closer to that set of grandparents.
Actually Kate seems cool to spend time with if you have kids or like sports. William is the one who may be petulant but still I feel like we don’t see his happier side.
As for the rest, me might be critical of William but he’ll be king. Charles is way less liked but he’ll king as well. That’s the way it goes..