Zara Tindall says she’s ‘lucky’ her mother, Princess Anne, didn’t give her a royal title, meaning she had to ‘do it her own way’ growing up – and hopes she has their ‘great work ethic’ taken over

Zara Tindall has revealed she is ‘lucky’ Princess Anne didn’t give her a royal title as she spoke candidly about her family in a new podcast.

The mother-of-three and her husband Mike, who live on Princes Anne’s Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire, were interviewed by former rugby player Rob Burrow about his Total Sport podcast.

During the conversation, Rob – who was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019 – asked the couple what advice they would give to their seven-year-old self.

Although she was initially put off by the question, Zara discussed her role in the institution – and how glad she is that Princess Anne didn’t force her and her brother Peter to work for the royal family.

She explained: “From my point of view, I was obviously very lucky that my mother didn’t give us any titles, so I really commend her for that.

‘We were lucky that we were allowed to do it a bit in our own way.

“My family also has a great work ethic, which I hope they instilled in me and which continues to this day.

‘Hopefully we can pass it on to our children. Now my brother and my cousins ​​love to go back and do the same things, and I hope our children will have the same experiences we had growing up.

‘You only really appreciate that when you are older and have children.’

When Princess Anne welcomed her son Peter in 1977, she and her then husband Mark Philips decided that they did not want to give their children the HRH titles to which they were entitled, in an attempt to give them as normal an upbringing as possible.

Zara then said her advice to her younger self would be to “listen a little more” and work harder at school.

Elsewhere in the podcast, Mike and Zara revealed that they affectionately call each other ‘munchkin’.

Mike says, “We actually call each other Munchkins a lot. I don’t know why that started, but it stuck.

The couple were interviewed by former rugby player Rob Burrow in the latest episode of his Total Sport podcast

Prince William is known to Mike Tindall as ‘one pint Willy’ because he is not a big drinker, according to Mike Tindall

“I’ll let Zara decide if she wants to give away what I have in her phone because…”

Zara replies, “It’s in my phone as something else and it ends with kitten.”

This conversation prompted Rob to question the rugby star about other family nicknames.

Mike says: ‘To the Prince of Wales he is known as One Pint Willy.

‘He is known to me as One Pint Willy because he is not the best drinker, coming from a sport that revolves around the social aspect and where a few beers are often drunk. That’s one I’ll give away to the Prince of Wales.’

Zara can be heard laughing before she says, “Oh my god. You’re in so much trouble.’

William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales burst into laughter as they joined Mike and his mother as they attended the recording of a special episode of The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle. in-laws, Princess Anne

The Tindalls made the revelations in a special podcast with rugby league legend Rob Burrow, who is battling motor neurone disease, seen here with his family on BBC Sports Personality of the Year in 2022

Mike also admits that he dreams of his two-year-old son Lucas becoming a professional golfer – and that he wanted to give him the middle name ‘Mulligan’.

“The two-year-old is where I pin my dreams,” says the 2003 Rugby World Cup winner.

‘I actually wanted his middle name to be Mulligan because if he became a professional golfer he would drop the Lucas and just become Mulligan Tindall.

“I thought that would be the best golf name ever. Plus, Mulligan means the offspring of a balding man, so that was perfect!’

Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall smile as they look at her phone during Day Two of Wimbledon last year

Zara and Mike, pictured at Ascot last year, save pet names on their phones. The couple made the revelation during a new podcast

Zara Tindall was seen supervising her son Lucas on a trampoline at Gatcombe Park this summer

Burrow tells the Tindalls that he has always wanted to deliver the alternative Christmas message, which is broadcast on Channel 4 at the same time as the King’s Christmas Message on the BBC.

Zara says, “I definitely think you could do that other Christmas speech.” You would definitely rock it and be a huge inspiration to many people.

“I’m sure (King Charles) would just let you do your own thing. I hope to see that someday. I think you’ll just record it and send it over there!’