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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

Mike Tindall being cheered on by Princess Anne on I'm A Celeb is 'unthinkable' - expert

Mike Tindall being watched and cheered on by Princess Anne on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here is "unthinkable", a royal expert has claimed.

The former rugby player, who is married to Anne's daughter Zara Tindall, told of an awkward encounter that he had with his mother-in-law on the latest episode of the show.

Until then, the dad-of-three has remained rather coy about his life behind palace walls but last night he let slip a story about dancing with the Princess Royal at Zara's 30th birthday party that saw him sl*tdrop, split his trousers and expose his underwear that featured a cheeky slogan.

But according royal expert and author Katie Nicholl, it's unlikely that Anne would have been tuned in to see Mike recall the story on the hit ITV show.

Mike Tindall with his mother-in-law Princess Anne (Getty Images)

Speaking on True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat, she said: "Knowing Princess Anne...The idea that she’ll be sitting, cheering Mike on is absolutely unthinkable.

"I think she’ll be thinking, ‘What on earth is he doing?’ And that’s probably the thoughts of most of the senior royals."

Katie added: "He’s making a lot of money out of it. I do think this all leads to the much bigger question about Royals and commercialisation.

"We dedicate so much time to discussing Harry and his commercial deals. How is this any different? It’s not.

Mike recalled a story about Princess Anne on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Comedians Seann Walsh and Babatúndé Aléshé cracked up at Mike's story (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"But I think the point is, this really crystalises Charles’s argument and vision for a slimmed-down monarchy.

“One wonders if the Queen was still alive, and knowing how close Zara was to her grandmother, whether she might have actually had a conversation [about her husband appearing] saying, 'Granny, just so you know...' I think that's much more likely than not."

On last night's show, Mike recalled the awkward gaffe with Anne while reminiscing about the memorable night.

The 44-year-old recalled: "I love a suit, my problem with suits is I over exaggerate dancing at weddings… I rip a lot of suits, trousers and stuff.

Mike and Zara greet Anne at Royal Ascot in 2019 (Hugh Routledge/REX)

"The old sl*t drop gets me every time, I went to a wedding, ripped a suit, they were like, 'Oh my God, what are you going to do?' I was like, 'Don’t worry I've got a spare.'

"They were like, 'Who brings a spare suit?' Someone who rips a lot of trousers brings a spare suit."

The former professional sportsman added: "Zara had like a 30th birthday, it was a disco 70s-themed one, I was dancing on the dance floor.

"I had like flares on, full outfit but it was quite tight, nothing ever fits - rugby player's bum and legs, so I was dancing with my mother-in-law and I did a sl*t drop in front of my mother-in-law.

"I ripped my trousers, straight in front of her, it happened to be that my boxers that I had on at that time said nibble my nuts", he said before revealing: "As I've turned round, she's gone, 'I'd rather not.' I've gone, 'I'm going' and walked off."

The Royal Beat - available on True Royalty TV.

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