Mike Tindall says 'amazing' Queen always made him feel part of Royal Family
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Mike Tindall has praised the "amazing" Queen for making him feel part of the Royal Family, as he gets close to his 10 year anniversary with wife Zara.
The former England rugby player married the Queen's granddaughter Zara in Edinburgh in 2011, the second royal wedding of the year, as they followed the nuptials of William and Kate in London.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Tindall said it has been "an amazing 10 years" and praised the Queen for making him feel welcome since his marriage.
Of his royal in-laws, he said: "I can only say how kind they’ve been to me, and how welcoming they’ve been to me since joining the family. And how they’ve made my family welcome.
"I’ve always felt part of it and I think that’s down to what an amazing woman the Queen is. They’re a fantastic family.
"How many families say that they will get together as a whole family six to eight times a year? It just doesn’t happen for me. I would like it to happen more, and this is where I have to perhaps learn a bit more from the wife, but it’s very rare.
"They’re very close and it’s great to see."
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Although Zara is one of the Queen's grandchildren and her mother, Princess Anne, is frequently dubbed the hardest-working royal, the Tindalls don't carry out duties on behalf of Her Majesty.
They are able to join the family at big events like Trooping the Colour and were two of the 30 mourners who attended Prince Philip's funeral in April.
Tindall did have a royal engagement in April, as he took part in a video call with the Duchess of Gloucester, who is married to the Queen's cousin, to raise awareness of Parkinson's, which his father has.
At the end of the call, the two revealed the closeness of the family bond, as the duchess said: "It’s been lovely to talk with you, Mike, it really has."
Tindall replied: "I can’t wait to see you guys, it’s been so long.
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Speaking to The Telegraph he said he did not have any secrets to marriage but said he and his wife were "best friends".
He said: "I think the fact that she’s always been my best friend has been the key. At the end of the day we can sit down and laugh at each other and have a good time. It’s been an amazing 10 years."
The Tindalls live in Gloucestershire on the estate given to Princess Anne by the Queen after her first marriage.
They have two daughters, Mia and Lena, and one son Lucas, who was born earlier this year.
Watch: Royal Baby: Zara and Mike Tindall Welcome Baby Lucas
