Mike Tindall has paid tribute to his wife’s grandfather Prince Philip saying it’s been a ‘difficult 10 days’ as he praised the ‘amazing’ Queen saying that she is ‘leading the country by example’.
The husband of Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall spoke on his podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby, saying the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral was ‘eerie’ due to the lack of crowds, but that it’s exactly how the royal would have wanted it because it’s ‘no fuss’.
He added that his love for The Queen is ‘even better’ than ever and that the funeral was ‘well run’ and Philip was ‘well looked after’.
Mike Tindall has paid tribute to his wife’s grandfather Prince Philip saying it’s been a ‘difficult 10 days’ as he praised the Queen saying that she is ‘leading the country by example’. He is pictured with wife Zara at Prince Philip’s funeral on Satuday
‘It’s been a difficult 10 days,’ he told co-hosts James Haskell and Alex Payne.
‘I look back on the day I think is eerie as it was with no crowds and the social distancing.
‘I think it was the perfect day for how he would have liked it, if that makes any sense whatsoever. No fuss, get on with it,’ he added.
The former England rugby pro, 42, sat with his wife Zara Tindall, 39, who looked distinctively teary-eyes as she mourned her grandfather during his funeral at St George’s Chapel in Windsor on Saturday.
Mike (far right with Prince Philip) said that Prince Philip’s funeral was ‘exactly how he would have liked it’. He is pictured with (from left) Prince Edward, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, and Zara Tindall at the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations in 2016
The husband of Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall spoke on his podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby , saying the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral was ‘eerie’ due to the lack of crowds, but that it’s exactly how the royal would have wanted it because it’s ‘no fuss’. Members of the military march ahead of the funeral service of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh in Windsor Castle
Mike missed his podcast last week, which was recorded just days after the death of Prince Philip, but her also took to Instagram to pay tribute to the duke sharing a photograph of the royal eating with his great-granddaughter Mia Grace.
‘My love for the Queen was even better, she was sat there completely on her own,’ Mike added.
‘She separated herself. She knew this is what the world is right now, and thought I’m going to lead by example.
The former England rugby pro, 42, uploaded the snapshot to Instagram last week alongside a heart-felt caption
‘She’s amazing, literally amazing,’ he added.
‘There were eerie moments for the family. It could have been his hat on the his carriage that he rides, or his gloves, or it could be the hat on his coffin, and the sword, the bugler, the piper.
‘There were a lot of things that brought home memories and it was a sad day but you know I think it was a very well run and he was very well looked after.
‘He was were very well looked after and hopefully he’s looking down and he was happy with the day.
Mike added that his love for The Queen is ‘even better’ than ever and that the funeral was ‘well run’ and Philip was ‘well looked after’. The Queen, 95, is pictured at her husband’s funeral on Saturday
Mike said that Philip’s hat on the his carriage that he rides and his gloves was an ‘eerie moment’ for the family
Co-host Alex Payne said that Mike has ‘put that pretty perfectly’.
‘It was an extraordinary event to watch and I hope that there’ll be at the right moment they’ll be lots of hugs for those that need them.
‘I hope you’ve nailed it by saying it was exactly what he wanted it was been proud.
‘Hopefully, well done, let’s not do too much more on that because I know that as we said last week lots, lots of far more better place people can can eulogise better than we ever will,’ he added.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s granddaughter Zara Tindall was joined by her husband Mike as she arrived at Windsor Castle ahead of the funeral on Saturday
Mike said it was ‘eerie’ to be socially distanced. Mourners including, front row from left, Kate Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Prince Edward, Viscount Severn, Lady Louise Windsor, the Countess of Wessex, the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles. Back row: Zara and Mike Tindall are pictured with Princess Beatrice, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank
Alex added that the service was ‘remarkably poignant and significant’ and that Mike looked ‘incredibly smart’.
While the Queen got back to work days after her husband’s death, Mike also revealed he had a ‘working lunch’ on Sunday, just a day after the funeral, where he got sun burned.
‘I went for lunch with someone who wants to support the podcast. And it was boiling hot in the middle of Teweksbury, and I say, I wish I could I’d say I put lotion on,’ he added, as his co-host teased him for being ‘the colour of beetroot’ and a ‘nuclear Phil Mitchell’.
Mike, 42, married Philip’s granddaughter Zara Tindall , 39, in 2011 and the couple now share three children
Last week, the father-of-three missed the recording of his podcast with French rugby union player Benjamin Kayser stepping in, to replace him and James Haskell who was ‘recharging his batteries’.
‘No Tins for obvious reasons,’ co-host Alex said, referring to the the father-of-three’s nickname.
‘Obviously there are lots of people saying far more eloquent things and suitable things than we ever could.
‘But as he always knows lots of love and hugs from us and hopefully from those you who listen and enjoy the show, a very sad time for a great man.
It comes just days after Prince William and Kate Middleton released their own touching photo of the Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen with seven of their great-grandchildren – Prince George, Prince Louis, Savannah Phillips, Princess Charlotte, Isla Phillips holding Lena Tindall, and Mia Tindall
‘More on that to come from far more important sources in due course,’ he added.
Mike, married Prince Philip and the Queen’s eldest granddaughter in 2011. Prince Philip passed away aged 99 at Windsor Castle on 9th April.
He has previously used the podcast to break royal news, including the birth of the couple’s third child last month.
Her Majesty’s granddaughter, 39, gave birth to their son Lucas Philip Tindall, weighing 8lbs 4oz, at 6pm on 21st March on the bathroom floor of their family home on Princess Anne’s Gloucestershire estate.
Mike, married Prince Philip and the Queen’s eldest granddaughter in 2011. Prince Philip passed away aged 99 at Windsor Castle on Friday. He is pictured behind The Duke of Edinburgh at the wedding of Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly in 2008 with The Duchess of Cambridge, The Queen, Prince Harry and Princess Beatrice
Like her cousin Princess Eugenie, Zara paid tribute to her beloved grandfather by naming her newborn son, Lucas Philip Tindall, in his honour.
Proud father Mike who shares daughters Mia, seven, and Lena, two, with his wife, shared the news on his podcast – and hailed Zara a ‘warrior’. He later revealed he took the little one straight downstairs to watch sport on TV, after snipping the cord and enjoying skin-on-skin contact.
Speaking about the birth, Mike told how Zara had experienced contractions the night before, so they organised childcare for Mia and Lena – but the little boy arrived so fast they didn’t have time to make it to hospital.
