Zara and Mike Tindall are celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary today, July 30, 2026. The couple, who married in Edinburgh in 2011, have long been fan favourites among royal enthusiasts.
Mike Tindall's unusual proposal
Mike proposed to Zara in December 2010 while she was watching television at their home in Gloucester. According to Rebecca English, royal editor for the Daily Mail, the moment left Zara laughing. English said on the Palace Confidential programme: 'He basically just walked into the house one day, I think, while she was watching TV and literally, yeah, got down on one knee and said, "Would you marry me?" because he wanted to really catch her off guard. And apparently, she burst out laughing and laughed for ages, but I think it was laughter of delight, and eventually got out, "Yes", and actually, I think that's really rather lovely in its own way.'
Buckingham Palace announced the engagement on December 21, 2010, with a statement reading: 'The Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter Zara Phillips to Mr Mike Tindall, son of Mr Phillip and Mrs Linda Tindall.'
Wedding day in Edinburgh
The couple married on July 30, 2011, at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh. Zara wore an ivory silk dress designed by Stewart Parvin. She also wore the Meander Tiara, a bandeau worth up to £4 million, which originally belonged to her great-grandmother Princess Alice of Battenberg (mother of Prince Philip). Princess Alice gave the tiara to Queen Elizabeth II as a wedding gift in 1947. The Queen never wore it publicly and passed it to Princess Anne in 1972. Anne lent it to Zara for her wedding day.
The tiara features neoclassical motifs such as meander (Greek key) designs, anthemions, and a central laurel wreath, suggesting an early twentieth-century creation.
Favourite royal couple
Over the past 15 years, Zara and Mike have remained popular with the public, often drawing excitement at royal events.
