Princess Anne’s son-in-law Mike Tindall has opened up on his father’s ‘brutal’ battle with Parkinson’s disease.
The former rugby union player, 47, was back out raising money for Cure Parkinson’s via his annual ISPS Handa Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic event in the West Midlands last Friday.
It’s a charity close to Mike’s heart: his father, Phillip Tindall, 80, a former Barclays banker, was diagnosed with the disease, which triggers the progressive deterioration of motor and non-motor functions, over 23 years ago.
‘My dad is not doing great at the moment. Parkinson’s is brutal and there is no let up from how it attacks the body and changes people,’ he told Hello.
‘After 23 (plus) years of the disease, it has quite honestly left him a shell of what he once was, which is why I don’t want anyone else to see a parent or loved one suffer and have their quality of life decline so massively.’
Mike’s annual event also supports the sporting-injury charity The Matt Hampson Foundation – named after professional rugby player Hampson, 41, who is paralysed from the neck down after a rugby accident at the age of 20.
This year, in a move Tindall has hailed ‘amazing’, Hampson will take part in the London Marathon with the help of the foundation.
Mike also explained that, despite last week’s charity golf event taking place on his wife Zara Tindall’s 45th birthday, she had no issue spending her special day raising money for good causes with close friends.
‘Zara loves the golf day,’ Mike said, ‘She gets a load of mates in one place, and a big party on her birthday!’
Mike Tindall has opened up on his father’s ‘brutal’ battle with Parkinson’s disease (pictured: Mike with his parents Phil and Linda at Gatcombe Park in 2009)
Elsewhere on Friday, Zara made clear that there’s no bad blood between herself and her brother, Peter Phillips’s ex-wife, Autumn Phillips.
In photos from the event, Zara is captured hugging Autumn tightly alongside her long-time family friend Dolly Maude.
Autumn and Peter finalised their divorce in June 2021, and have both gone on to have happy relationships, with Autumn finding love with property tycoon Donal Mulryan, while Peter is preparing to wed NHS nurse Harriet Spearling in June.
Peter and Harriet’s guest list will reportedly include King Charles, Queen Camilla, Peter’s mother, Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, among other members of the Royal Family.
Zara’s birthday went far from unnoticed at Friday’s event, with her, Autumn and Dolly riding in style in a golf buggy decorated with balloons, party streamers and a cartoon face.
In one image, the royal gazed lovingly at her husband, with the pair wearing matching merchandise for the event in bright green.
It comes after Zara was at her glamorous best as she supported the Prince and Princess of Wales at their first royal garden party of the season earlier this month.
Prince William and Kate stepped out at the event in the gardens of Buckingham Palace on behalf of King Charles.
Pictured: Princess Anne and Phil Tindall at Mike and Zara Tindall’s 2011 wedding in Edinburgh, Scotland
Mike and Zara Tindall are seen at Friday’s ISPS Handa Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic held at the Belfry in the West Midlands
They were accompanied by Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara, who completely transformed her makeup-free look from the day prior’s Badminton Horse Trials and arrived wearing a stunning blue cutwork dress.
One day after she donned a sporty ensemble for the equestrian event, Zara proved she is just as comfortable in frocks as she flashed a smile while posing with her cousin Prince William and Kate.
For the occasion, Zara picked a stunning floral dress from the Australian brand Leo Lin that retails for £475 (AUD 895).
It is believed that Zara’s piece was custom-created since it features delicate puff sleeves while the original dress is sleeveless.
She finished her elegant look with a statement hat and off-white clutch, as a smiling Zara was seen walking alongside the Duke of Edinburgh.
Typically, more than 30,000 people are invited to the events each year.
It’s estimated that in total, guests consume 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake at each party.
