Mike Tindall reveals the one honour he would ‘definitely’ refuse despite royal ties

He’s a rugby legend with 75 caps for England and an MBE to his name — but there’s one honour Mike Tindall says he’d happily decline: a royal title.

Tindall joined the Royal Family in 2011 when he married Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Phillips. Despite his close ties to some of the most privileged people on the planet, he revealed he has no desire to join their ranks in any official capacity.

The 46-year-old was recently at a charity event where he opened up to Closer magazine about his life in the Royal Family, admitting it was much easier to fit into the royal fold than expected.

“It was easier than it could have been,” he said via Hello magazine.

While Zara, 43 is a granddaughter of the late Queen and niece of King Charles III, Princess Anne decided her children would not receive titles and help them avoid the burden of royal duties.

When Princess Anne’s first husband, Captain Mark Phillips, declined the Queen’s offer of an earldom, Princess Anne subsequently declined her mother’s offer of titles for her children, Peter and Zara.

For Tindall, he’s happy how things have turned out and shrugged off any thoughts of accepting an official title for himself.

“I would definitely turn that down,” he said after the magazine asked what he would do if offered a position.

It also means Tindall can enjoy a relaxed relationship with his mother-in-law and share humorous moments with her in public.

Recently Tindall shared a humorous story about how he managed to draw the ire of Princess Anne during a high-stakes rugby match between Scotland and England.

Known for her unwavering support of the Scottish rugby team, given her role as patron of the Scottish Rugby Union since 1986—Princess Anne was already less than pleased when Tindall’s England squad triumphed over her beloved Scots.

Making matters worse was the fact that Anne had to present the trophy to the winning team, something Tindall couldn’t help but have some fun with.

“Most fellas want to get something over on their mother-in-law. It’s quite niche if you’re the captain of the England team and you play Scotland at Twickenham and, when you win, you’re receiving the trophy from your mother-in-law,” he told Closer magazine.

“I don’t like the majority of the RFU (Rugby Football Union), but I shook every one of their hands and I kept her waiting.”

Princess Anne, never one to suffer fools lightly, didn’t take too kindly to his antics.

“She was like, ‘move on, Michael’. I was like, ‘debrief over lunch tomorrow?’ And she said, ‘move on, Michael’,” he recalled.