Mike Tindall has spoken candidly about his father Philip's struggle with Parkinson's disease, describing the heartbreaking deterioration of a man who was once a strong athlete. The former rugby star, 42, told BBC Breakfast that his father now struggles with tasks like picking up a pen.
Tindall recalled that when he was 25, his rugby career was thriving and he did not fully grasp the severity of the illness. He noted that after his marriage to Zara Tindall in 2011, the effects of Parkinson's became more apparent, including curvature of the spine requiring surgery. Over the past decade, numerous other complications have arisen.
The father-of-three admitted that lockdown made him appreciate his family more, as he was able to visit his father for the first time in a year. He acknowledged taking his parents for granted in the past.
Tindall also reflected on attending the scaled-down funeral of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, earlier this year. He praised the Queen's bravery in sitting alone during the service, adhering to COVID-19 restrictions.
