Mike Tindall reveals his father has died aged 80

Mike Tindall has shared the news his father Phil Tindall died last week at the age of 80.

The English rugby star and husband of King Charles III’s niece, Zara Tindall, spoke about Phil’s passing on the latest episode of his podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby.

“Unfortunately, my dad passed away last week,” Tindall said when the episode’s theme of ‘dads’ was brought up by his co-host.

Tindall revealed he was moved by a tribute from Phil’s former rugby club, Otley, which held a minute’s silence before their game against Chester rugby club. Phil was captain of Otley rugby club in 1972 to 1973.

“He got married in ’69, broke his leg the week before, went down the aisle in a cast. He had to retire [from rugby] at 27,” he said.

“But thank you very much to Otley Rugby Club for that little moment. I got to watch it, they sent it to me, and they wrote a little thing in the program as well which I read.”

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Mike Tindall praises 'brilliant' wife Zara's support

Phil, who was a big influence on Tindall’s own rugby career and taught him how to tackle, had been living with Parkinson’s for more than 20 years. Tindall has worked with Cure Parkinson’s over the years to help raise awareness and funds.

“It’s a nightmare disease, because there are over 40 symptoms of what Parkinson’s can look like,” Tindall told Good Morning Britain in April 2019.

“The research that has come out [shows] how many people think they’re drunk or people can suddenly freeze in the middle of the street, and you might upset somebody who’s walking behind you and they just don’t get it. They don’t understand that can be part of it. That’s the difficult side of it.”

Tindall praised his wife Zara, the daughter of Princess Anne, in a 2021 interview for her support while his father’s condition declined.

“She’s been brilliant. She sort of gets it. She keeps me on my toes as well a little bit with it, and where we are in terms of finding out more about new drugs that are coming out and new trials and everything else,” Tindall told BBC Breakfast.

“Yeah, she’s good at making sure I stay on my toes about what I’m trying to do as well.”

Phil was already experiencing Parkinson’s symptoms in 2011 when Tindall married Zara. Sadly, the condition meant Phil was limited in how much he could play with his grandkids, Zara and Tindall’s children, Mia, 12, Lena, eight, and Lucas, five.