Royals

The sweet way the Queen supported Mike and Zara Tindall after miscarriage

Dec 30, 2018

Mike Tindall revealed how the Queen supported him and Zara following their miscarriage in 2016. Source: Getty

Mike Tindall has spoken openly about his and wife Zara’s struggle following a miscarriage two years ago and how the Queen supported them through the difficult time.

The former rugby player joined presenters on television show the House of Rugby over the festive season where he discussed how the royal family celebrates Christmas.

While this year was a joyous occasion at Sandringham House in Norfolk, two years ago it wasn’t quite the same.

Sadly in the lead up to the big day in 2016, Mike and Zara tragically lost their baby in a miscarriage. They understandably wanted to take some time away to grieve, so while the rest of the royals celebrated Christmas together, the two spent the day with the Queen.

“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,” he explained on the show.

Although Tindall said the Queen usually wears darker colours following the death of a loved one, he opted for a brightly coloured suit that day to bring some happiness to the day.

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

Just months ago Zara gave a deeply personal an candid TV interview on her devastation after suffering two miscarriages.

The 37-year-old, who now has Mia, four and Lena, six months, with Mike, first revealed she suffered a miscarriage in November 2016, weeks after the pregnancy was initially announced. She then tragically suffered a second miscarriage before becoming pregnant with Lena.

Speaking for the first time on TV about their losses, Zara told BBC Breakfast in September: “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. Actually I had so many letters saying ‘I’m so sorry, we’ve been through the same thing’, which was incredible – and thank you to all those people.

"At the end of the day they've still lost a child too"
Zara Tindall reflects the impact her miscarriages had on her husband#miscarriage #royals #royal pic.twitter.com/RZu8Xqtxia

— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) September 7, 2018

“But it just showed how often it does happen and I have a very supportive family, Mike’s incredible.”

That prompted Zara to acknowledge how difficult a miscarriage is on men too, as they’ve suffered just as much of a loss as their partner.

“It’s very different for us [women] because we’re carrying the child, but for guys I guess it’s kind of that helpless feeling, which must be incredibly high and horrible for them. At the end of the day they’ve still lost a child too,” she added.

Zara went on: “Being helpless is horrible isn’t it, for anyone. So you know, he’s… it’s been a horrible road but, you know, actually now we’ve come out the end of it, hopefully it makes you a stronger family.”