Mike Tindall has announced the death of his father Philip at the age of 80. The former England rugby player, who is married to the Princess Royal's daughter Zara Tindall, confirmed the news on his The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast.
Minute's silence at Otley Rugby Club
Tindall told listeners: "Unfortunately, my dad passed away last week." He described how a minute's silence was held in his father's honour at Otley Rugby Club at the weekend.
Philip Tindall, who captained Otley Rugby Club from 1972-73, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease more than 20 years ago in 2003.
Long campaign for Parkinson's research
His son, who is patron of Cure Parkinson's, has long campaigned to raise funds for the charity's research into the condition. Tindall previously discussed the devastating effect the disease had had on his father, and praised his mother Linda for her care of her husband.
In 2021, he called his mother "a very stoic, northern lady, who refuses to give her man up", but said he was trying to convince her to accept offers of support.
Father's rugby career remembered
In the podcast episode, Tindall described how his father, who had to retire from playing rugby at the age of 27, broke his leg the week before his wedding day and had to walk down the aisle in a cast.
Tindall said: "A big shout out to Otley Rugby Club. They played Chester on the weekend and they did a minute of silence to my dad who was captain in '72-'73. He got married in '69, broke his leg the week before, went down the aisle in a cast. I mean, it sort of all went wrong. He had to retire at 27. But thank you very much to Otley Rugby Club for that little moment. I got to watch it. Someone recorded it and sent it to me and then they wrote a little thing in the programme as well which I read."
Tindall's podcast co-host Alex Payne told him: "Massive hug from all of us and all our listeners and all our readers… to you and Team Tindall."
Tributes from Parkinson's UK
The charity Parkinson's UK expressed sadness at the death of Philip Tindall and thanked the family for their openness about the disease.
"Through the family's openness about their life with Parkinson's, the Tindalls have made others feel less alone and more understood," the organisation said. It said: "Alongside the desperate need for a cure, together they took time to highlight the importance of a community, a network of people around you. Something that will no doubt be invaluable to them right now."
