Charles Once Reportedly Pleaded With Zara and Mike Tindall To Prevent Another Sussex Moment
King Charles was reportedly blindsided when Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall expressed a desire to move to Australia. The Tindalls, who currently live at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, are often seen holidaying in the country with their children. According to an insider, once Charles learnt of their wish, he allegedly issued an urgent plea, begging them not to go through with it. The King was said to be keen to avoid damaging his relationship with them, something he experienced with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their move to the U.S.
Luckily for the monarch, Zara and Mike reportedly decided to split their time between the UK and Australia, with longer periods spent in Australia. Weighing in on their alleged decision, a source told the Daily Express that their plan now was "for the family to spend more time in Australia over the coming years, which includes both winter and summer holidays abroad with the children." The news of their final decision reportedly brought 'extreme joy' to Charles, who was seemingly concerned about keeping the royal family together. The insider continued, "When the idea was discussed seriously during a sit-down, it drew blank faces and teary eyes from several members of the family. It became instantly clear that it wasn't a move that could ever become permanent."
Charles, who has always shared a close relationship with the Tindalls, allegedly feared losing them to long distance, just as he lost Harry and Markle. For context, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California after alleging mistreatment and racial bias toward Markle from the Firm. After settling in Montecito, Harry and Markle welcomed Princess Lilibet to their family. The King has met his newest grandchild only once, during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee, and spent less than a year with Prince Archie before the Sussexes moved across the pond.
While the King's fear of losing Mike and Zara over long distance was valid, things may soon change for the better with Harry and Markle. After Charles and Harry's much-awaited September meeting, the Duke shared his interest in bringing his children to the UK. When asked by The Guardian if he would consider it, he replied, "Yes, I would. This week has definitely brought that closer," referring to his reunion with his father. Interestingly, back in May, he had pointedly told the BBC that he doesn't "see a world in which [he] would be bringing [his] wife and children back to the UK."
As for the Tindalls' move to Australia, Mike particularly squashed rumors of relocating there permanently during an exclusive interview with HELLO! When asked if he was considering moving to the country full-time, he pointedly answered, "We go to Australia every year for the Magic Millions racing event, and we try to get back to have lunch at the place where we met whenever we can…Everyone keeps telling us we're moving there, but we're not. It's so far away, especially when you have a big family."