Inside Zara Tindall’s “Normal” Royal Parenting Approach

While their cousins Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis navigate life in the royal spotlight, Zara and Mike Tindall’s three children—Mia, Lena, and Lucas—are growing up with remarkable normalcy despite their royal connections. The Tindall children, currently 22nd-25th in line to the British throne, benefit from their parents’ deliberate approach to raising royal children without royal titles, according to People.

“I think it was probably easier for them, and I think most people would argue that there are downsides to having titles,” Princess Anne told Vanity Fair in 2020, explaining her original decision not to give titles to her children Zara and Peter Phillips. This philosophy has extended to the next generation, with Zara’s children enjoying freedoms their more senior royal cousins cannot.

The Tindall children’s unique position allows them to participate in royal events without the burden of formal duties or intense public scrutiny. They regularly appear at major family gatherings—including Christmas at Sandringham and Trooping the Colour—while maintaining privacy in their daily lives at the family’s farmhouse on Princess Anne’s Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire.

Photo by Gareth Evans/News Images/DepositPhotos

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Family Pranks and Playful Parenting

In a rare glimpse into their family dynamics, Mike Tindall recently revealed the lighthearted atmosphere of their household. “My job now is being a dad and I love it. It’s important to set a good example, so I play pranks on the kids and their mum,” Mike shared in a February 2025 issue of Beano magazine, according to Express.

“I love hiding and jumping out to scare them. It works best on mum (Zara) – she screams SO loudly!” Mike continued, painting a picture of a playful family environment far removed from the formal protocols that govern royal households higher in the line of succession.

The children have apparently embraced this spirit of mischief themselves. “The kids’ favourite prank is to hide under the table and tie people’s shoelaces together!” Mike revealed, showcasing how the family maintains a sense of normalcy and fun despite their royal connections.

Racing Enthusiasts: Following Family Traditions

While the Tindall children may not have royal titles, they are clearly inheriting their parents’ passion for sports and competitions. The family kicked off 2025 with a joyous day at the Cheltenham New Year’s Day races, where all three children—Mia, 10, Lena, 6, and Lucas, 4—were photographed enthusiastically cheering from the stands, according to Hello Magazine.

Lucas, the youngest, particularly captured attention with his uninhibited celebrations, at one point jubilantly punching the air following a win on the racecourse. His sisters showed equal enthusiasm, with Mia throwing her arms in the air while cheering and Lena sweetly resting her arms on the railing with a beaming smile.

These public appearances offer rare glimpses of the children’s personalities developing outside the constraints of formal royal protocols. Unlike their cousins, who must maintain composure during public events, the Tindall children can express genuine emotions without the weight of representing the monarchy.

Balancing Commitments with Family Time

Despite their busy careers—Zara as a professional equestrian and Mike as a sports personality and podcast host—the couple prioritize family time while managing their professional commitments. “If I’m away and Mike’s here I don’t feel guilty, whereas if we’re both away then I feel much more guilty,” Zara has previously admitted, acknowledging the challenge of balancing work and parenting, according to New Idea.

Mike has echoed this sentiment, particularly regarding his participation in I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! UK in 2022. “That’s probably the hardest thing about the whole show, especially when you’ve got the three little ones as well, is being away for that period of time,” he said on Good Morning Britain.

In 2025, the family continues to navigate these tensions between public commitments and private family time. In January, Zara and Mike traveled to Australia for the Magic Millions carnival—which includes polo, showjumping and racing events—while their children remained in the UK, demonstrating the practical approaches they take to managing their unique lifestyle.

Royal Cousins: Close Bonds Despite Different Paths

Despite their different positions within the royal structure, the Tindall children maintain close relationships with their royal cousins. “We’ve got a good little crew of royal youngsters going on there now,” Mike told Hello! magazine several years ago. “They all seem to get on and enjoy each other’s company, and it’ll be good to watch them grow up together.”

This connection was evident during the 2022 Christmas church service at Sandringham, when Mia was photographed playfully interacting with Prince George. The following year, she was seen holding hands with Prince Louis and receiving flowers from Princess Charlotte and the Princess of Wales, demonstrating the natural bonds forming between the royal cousins despite their different roles and futures.

Future Royal Roles: Unofficial Contributions

While the Tindall children do not currently have royal titles or official duties, recent developments suggest they may eventually contribute to the monarchy in unofficial capacities. According to discussions at a summer 2024 Balmoral summit convened by King Charles, the next generation of royals—including the Tindall children—could be assigned informal roles to support the monarchy’s public engagements, according to Express.

“The future of the Royal Family doesn’t just hinge on the Wales family,” an insider explained, “but also on other members of the Royal Family that hold a visible profile in this country and around the world. It’s all about building a brand and the family recognises that.”

This potential shift reflects King Charles’s vision to maintain the monarchy’s relevance and stability in the years ahead, potentially creating a new model of royal service that draws on family members who bring the authenticity of normal life experiences combined with royal heritage.

As the Tindall children continue growing up in this unique position—royal by blood but untitled by choice—they represent a fascinating experiment in modern royal parenting and may help shape the future of a more relatable, accessible monarchy.

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