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British RoyalsPrincess Anne and FamilyQueen Elizabeth II

Mike Tindall talks how The Queen comforted him and Zara after Zara’s miscarriage in 2016

Mike Tindall, the husband of Zara and son-in-law to Princess Anne, has opened up in a new interview about how The Queen comforted him and Zara after Zara suffered a miscarriage around Christmas in 2016.

That same year, The Queen was too ill to attend Christmas Day services which allowed her time to spend with her granddaughter and her granddaughter’s husband.

In an interview with the talk show “House of Rugby”, Mike spoke about Christmas 2016, “Two years ago, she wasn’t feeling very well and so she didn’t go to church, and we’d obviously been what we’d been through with our pregnancy that we lost, so we did our own little private – just as a three.”

Mike added that he wore a bright colour that day in an attempt to raise the mood – The Queen and Royal Family usually wear dark colours during sombre occasions and mourning or “sad times” as Mike called them.

“I was like, ‘maybe I should be wearing something a little different today’ but I was trying to raise the mood,” he said.

He also revealed that his wearing brighter colours did help to lighten the mood that Christmas.

Zara has also spoken publicly about her miscarriage telling BBC Breakfast’s Sally Nugent in September about her two miscarriages and how they impacted her. “I think that’s the hardest thing in our situation, is that everyone knew. And very much when things like that happen, normally it’s just your family and friends, but unfortunately everyone knew about it, ” she said.

During Mike’s interview with “House of Rugby”, he also spoke about the Royal Family’s Christmas and what it is like behind closed doors. He said, “So Christmas Day is a little more quiet because it’s actually a cold buffet because they give everyone the day off, and their big day is Christmas Eve.”

Additionally, he revealed the family – including himself – tuned into Her Majesty’s Christmas speech while drinking wine; however, some members of the family elected to watch Downtown Abbey instead.

Mike made sure to praise Zara’s gift buying skills while on air, too.

He remarked, “My wife is incredible at present buying. It’s unbelievable. There will probably be – each year at Sandringham – this year, I think there was 27, and she takes presents for each and every one of them. But then before, so, what is it? The 26th, so two weeks ago we had the family Christmas lunch which is ALL extended family members … Maybe 50, 55 – and she buys them all presents.”

About author

Brittani is from Tennessee, USA. She is a political scientist and historian after graduating with a degree in the topics from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in December 2014. She also holds a master's degree from Northeastern University. She enjoys reading and researching all things regarding the royals of the world. She's been researching, reading, and writing on royalty for over a decade. She became Europe Editor in October 2016, and then Deputy Editor in January 2019, and has been featured on several podcasts, radio shows, news broadcasts and websites including Global News Canada, ABC News Australia, WION India and BBC World News.