Mike Tindall cracks the Queen up with top hat joke

The Queen has been captured having a giggle at Royal Ascot - as she shared an adorable moment with her grandson-in-law Mike Tindall.

Her Majesty was joined by members of the family for the opening of the famous racing event which saw the likes of Prince William and Kate Middleton take part in a carriage procession.

Pulling one out of his hat

But amid all the pomp and pageantry, the Queen shared a cheeky moment with her granddaughter Zara Tindall’s husband, Mike, when he pulled a joke out of his top hat.

Dressed in full tails, the ex-captain of England’s rugby team removed his top hat as he greeted the Queen, before enticing her in with a friendly gag.

As the family matriarch peered into the accessory’s perimeter, Mike had a very little surprise waiting, in the form of a miniature top hat.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie joined her Majesty in a fit of giggles.

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Speculating about why he had a mini hat under his hat, one person wrote online, “It's those chocolates you can buy in the shop I think?”, with another joking the mini-hat was ‘a large Nespresso capsule’.

Mike and the royals

While such casual banter may seem unusual at a royal event, Mike Tindall is no ordinary member of the regal clan.

His unique position on its periphery allowed the rugby star to continue his high-profile sports career both before and after he met Zara in 2003 and they married in 2011.

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The in-law’s status as a civilian also means he has often shared family insights during media interviews over the years.

"A few of Zara's side like her brother Pete and the cousins are on WhatsApp groups," he told The Mirror of the royals’ social media habits last year.

“You might do it for a get-together and just stay on the group, and occasionally people will post. You're scared to leave because you don’t want to be seen to be rude!"