Mike Tindall has revealed that sporting backgrounds are the key to his successful marriage with wife Zara. The couple have been together for over 22 years and recently marked their 15th wedding anniversary.
Zara, the King's niece, is a world champion equestrian and won a silver medal in eventing at the London 2012 Olympics. Mike, who turns 48 on Sunday, is a rugby legend and was part of the England squad that won the World Cup in 2003. That same year, he met his future wife during the tournament in Australia.
Understanding each other's needs
The couple have three children together: Mia, 12, Lena, eight, and Lucas, five. Speaking about the secret behind their long-lasting partnership, Mike told the Talk Horse podcast: "It's worked all the way through because we've both been doing professional sport and we both understand each other's individual needs."
Zara echoed this sentiment earlier in the podcast, before Mike joined the show. She said: "Through our careers, dealing with each other's highs and lows as well as dealing with it ourselves and injury, it's maybe made it stronger in our relationship and our careers."
A grumpy first meeting
Their first meeting in 2003 was not love at first sight, according to Mike. He admitted he was not in the best mood when meeting Zara at a bar with her friends, after being dropped for the World Cup semi-final against France.
He explained: "I met her, I got dropped for the semi-final and I went out for a beer, I was quite grumpy."
When asked whether his feelings for Zara were instantaneous, Mike answered: "I wouldn't say I paid attention [to Zara] at first. It was the first time I'd ever been dropped I think at that point, and it was the semi-finals of the World Cup so it's quite an annoying one because if they lose, that's it."
Communication is key
Mike also detailed how he and Zara manage difficult moments in their marriage, admitting that communication is a key factor for any relationship. He added: "I think it all depends on the scenario.
"I think it's very easy when it's around sport or whether it's around the animals and the kids, but obviously other nuances become more difficult.
"I think neither of us necessarily chase out confrontation until it happens. That's sometimes not the best way of doing it. But then when it happens, I think we're probably pretty good at actually talking about it. You've just got to try and muddle your way through. It's never easy, is it?"
