Prince Harry is once again facing scrutiny over his life before royal exit, this time from someone within his own extended family circle.
Mike Tindall, whose daughter Lena counts Harry as her godfather, recently made remarks about knowing the duke “when he was fun,” in comments many interpreted as a subtle jab at the royal exile.
The former England rugby star also appeared to mock Harry’s uncle, former Prince Andrew, while making several other cheeky quips about the royal family.
Harry was seemingly trolled over his old royal life during a recent discussion at the Hay Festival.
While speaking with fellow podcasters James Haskell and Alex Payne at a live event, Tindall appeared to poke fun at the Duke of Sussex and his life before he stepped away from royal duties.
Tindall has close ties to the royal family through his 2011 marriage to Zara Tindall, the daughter of Princess Anne. He also shares a more personal connection with Harry, who is the godfather to his daughter, Lena.
The comment came after the former England rugby union player joked that Haskell had not embarrassed himself at the event.
“A lot of other people managed that way better than you,” Tindall said. “[Like] Harry, when he was fun!”
Mike Tindall’s Harsh Name For Harry Resurfaces
Before Harry stepped away from royal duties, he was widely seen as sharing a close bond with Tindall, with both men taking part in the 2014 edition of the Invictus Games.
However, since Harry’s departure from royal life, that once-friendly relationship is said to have cooled significantly.
Reports have also swirled in the past that Tindall has used more unflattering language when speaking about the Duke of Sussex in public settings.
One alleged instance came during Harry’s return to the U.K. for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations, where he attended the service at St. Paul’s Cathedral but skipped the Party at the Palace.
During the event, Tindall reportedly spoke to a guest he was sitting with and allegedly described Prince Harry’s behavior as that of a “bastard.”
Tindall Reportedly Filled Prince Harry’s ‘Fun Uncle’ Role
Tindall was previously said to have filled Harry’s old “fun uncle” role after the Duke of Sussex left the UK.
Following Harry’s departure, his relationship with his brother Prince William’s children is said to have cooled, particularly his bond with Prince George.
Last year, an expert suggested that Tindall had since stepped into that space within the family, even describing him as outperforming Harry in the informal “fun uncle” role.
“George’s original ‘fun uncle’ and adult playmate did that infamous bolt to the U.S., leaving a huge Harry-shaped gap in the young boy’s life that Mike has more than filled,” body language expert Judi James said.
She added, “Mike is the fun uncle everyone needs, but in the case of Prince George, whose destiny is all about duty and responsible behavior, Mike’s presence in his life is completely invaluable.”
Mike Tindall Joked About Dating Into The Royal Family
Tindall once opened up about meeting Zara before marrying into the royal family.
The rugby veteran and his wife tied the knot in 2011 after the pair began dating following England’s Rugby World Cup triumph.
Appearing on “I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” in 2022, the former rugby player reflected on how he met his future wife during a conversation with campmate Owen Warner, per Hello Magazine.
“Did you feel a bit of pressure? If I was chatting to a girl and then found out she was royalty I’d be nervous,” Warner asked.
The question led Tindall to joke that things were easier for him, as he had already been friends with several members of the royal family.
“No, because we were friends first, and then William and Harry were massive England fans at the time, so we’d met them numerous times. Met more of the family than you’d normally have met of the woman you start dating,” Tindall revealed.
Mike Tindall Said Marrying Zara Wasn’t ‘Fine And Dandy’
Tindall also reflected on his marriage to Zara, noting that contrary to what some might assume, it did not automatically come with financial comfort or an easy lifestyle.
“Everyone thinks that just by marrying Zara, that means it’s all fine and dandy… But that doesn’t stop the fact that you need a job. And it’s not that easy, you know… You get quite institutionalized into rugby, it’s a way of life, and you leave the game, and that’s not there,” Tindall said.
“I don’t think you can ever sort of describe when you’re so used to being around that many people, and understanding, because of it being ingrained in you, where you fit in to then not being that person,” he added.