Mike and Zara Tindall were praised for their “realness” as junior royals and their unpretentious way of not “hiding anything” about themselves and their lives.

“That realness is also with William and Kate,” former butler to Diana, Princess of Wales, Paul Burrell, dished on behalf of Slingo. “I don’t think there’s anything they’re hiding. I don’t think there’s anything false about them.”

Mike and Zara Tindall pictured in 2023 have become ‘very popular’ with the British public despite not officially working for the Crown.

“I think what you see is what you get, whereas Harry and Meghan, you just don’t know what to believe,” he added. “That’s the difference between the two camps.”

Burrell continued: “Mike Tindall has done incredibly well to step over that line into a royal world and yet keep one foot in the real world. He must have a very balanced mind to cope with both entities, because as we know, those incoming into the family have suffered in the past, and they’ve not always done well.”

Mike and Zara married in 2011 and would go on to have three children together, daughters Mia and Lena, and son Lucas. Zara and her three children are 21st-24th in line to the British throne, even though none of them are recognized as official British royals and do not represent the Crown in any capacity.

Zara is the second grandchild of the late Queen Elizabeth II as the second child of Anne, Princess Royal and Captain Mark Phillips. The hardworking only daughter of the late Queen turned down her mother’s offer to make Zara and her older brother, Peter, a Lady and peer of the realm, respectively.

Zara and Mike Tindall are being floated around as possible ‘working royals.’

“But Mike, coming from a sports background, has done incredibly well, he must just be a very nice guy,” Burrell further observed. “I’ve never met him, but he certainly seemed that way when he appeared on I’m A Celebrity. He seemed to be a very grounded, down-to-earth guy, but then that would be the guy that Zara would go for.”

The ex-aide then revealed: “She wouldn’t go for an old Etonian, she’d want somebody who lived in the real world. Mike brings his realness to that equation and he’s a great asset to Zara and his family. They’re very happy. They just call it as it is, and I think that’s the way forward.”

Mike and Zara Tindall were invited to Buckingham Palace’s May 21, 2024, Garden Party by Prince William.

Mike and Zara may not work to officially represent the British monarchy, but their career ventures have made them stars with the British public. Zara is also well-known for being an Olympic silver medalist, which she collected for her equestrian skills during the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.

In opinion polls, the junior royal pair consistently rank several places higher than preferences praising the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.