Prince George is reportedly finding a grounding influence in his godmother, Zara Tindall, and her husband, Mike Tindall, according to royal author Robert Jobson.
Jobson told the Daily Mail that Zara, Princess Anne's niece, and the former rugby player offer Prince George a connection to a less formal aspect of the Royal Family. He observed that Zara interacts with George without the deference often present in his interactions with others, noting, "She teases him. He is easy with her the way children are easy with adults who want nothing from them."
Mike Tindall, though not a godparent, is described as offering George a unique perspective on facing challenges. "He talks to him about losing, the one subject nobody else raises, because everybody else is invested in the boy winning," Jobson stated. He highlighted Mike's ability to discuss past defeats with humor and a lack of pretense, citing instances where Mike has offered comfort and advice to the young prince.
Jobson suggested that Zara and Mike's lack of royal titles and their personal achievements in their respective fields—Zara as a World Champion equestrian and Mike as a Rugby World Cup winner—provide a valuable contrast to the structured environment surrounding Prince George. He pointed out that Princess Anne chose not to give titles to Zara and her brother, Peter Phillips, allowing them to forge their own paths and achieve success based on merit.
"They have never sold access or traded overtly on the royal name," Jobson commented on the Tindalls' approach to their royal connections. He added that their ability to balance public royal duties with private life, earning their own living outside the institution, sets them apart.
Prince George, who will attend Eton College in the autumn, is growing up within a system designed to prepare him for kingship. Jobson posits that the influence of Zara and Mike, who have achieved significant success on their own terms and maintain a down-to-earth demeanor, can help George understand the difference between importance and usefulness.
Zara Tindall was chosen as one of Prince George's seven godparents when he was born in July 2013. The Tindalls have three children—Mia, Lena, and Lucas—who, like George and his siblings Charlotte and Louis, have grown up together through family gatherings and royal events. Mike Tindall has previously shared anecdotes about his close relationship with Prince George, noting the young royal's passion for football and his support for Aston Villa.