One Royal Quietly Attended the Super Bowl — and Even Skipped Meeting Harry and Meghan

Mike Tindall, Princess Anne, Prince William, and Kate Middleton in the Green Drawing Room; (inset) Harry and Meghan attend the Whistler Welcoming Ceremony. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images| Chris Jackson; (Inset) Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Feb. 10 2026, Published 06:58 AM. ET

The highly anticipated Super Bowl LX kicked off on February 8, as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. While many celebrities packed the stands for the nail-biting showdown, one royal attendee quietly flew under the radar, thanks to his bulky football helmet. Mike Tindall later confirmed his presence in a light-hearted social media selfie, enthusiastically cheering on the Seahawks. Notably, he did not appear to meet with Prince Harry or Meghan Markle, who live in the same state.

Mike Tindall and his friend at the Super Bowl LX event in Santa Barbara. (Image Source: Instagram| @mike_tindall12) — Mike Tindall at the Super Bowl LX event in Santa Barbara. (Image Source: Instagram| @mike_tindall12)

Tindall was likely there to support Seahawks defensive coordinator Aden Durde, who made history as the first British NFL coach to win a Super Bowl. A London native, Durde started his American football journey in the British American Football League before moving to the US through the NFL's International Development program in 2005. Tindall himself has enjoyed a famed rugby career lasting more than 17 years before retiring at age 34, three years after marrying Princess Anne's daughter, Zara. Unsurprisingly, he is an avid sports enthusiast, with interests spanning across rugby, football, cricket, and golf.

Mike Tindall during a Battle of the Balls fundraiser football match. (Image Source: Getty Images| Matthew Horwood) — Mike Tindall during a Battle of the Balls fundraiser football match. (Image Source: Getty Images | Matthew Horwood)

Interestingly, although Tindall attended the Super Bowl all the way from the UK, he did not cross paths with Harry and Markle, who live in the same state in Santa Barbara. However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not attend the Super Bowl, as opposed to Harry's attendance with Princess Eugenie in 2022. Their absence may have been a matter of personal choice or scheduling conflicts. Although they skipped this year's event, they did turn heads with a surprise appearance at the World Series last fall. The royal couple, who are also avid sports enthusiasts, were spotted wearing coordinating Los Angeles Dodgers caps while attending one of the games.

Peter Philips, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Zara Tindall, and Mike Tindall leave after the National Service of Thanksgiving. (Image Source: Getty Images | Daniel Leal - WPA Pool)

Tindall's equation with the Sussexes has been fairly diplomatic, even after they stepped down as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California. As reported by E! News, in the aftermath of their exit, he said on Good Morning America that he wished for them to "be happy with what they're doing and be happy with each other." He added that they're "busy doing what they're doing," signaling a non-judgmental stance. Additionally, on his podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, when asked about Harry and Markle's decision to step back from royal duties, he called it a 'no-go area' and said, "I don't know anything about it."

As for royals attending the famed Super Bowl event, as mentioned earlier, Harry made a rare appearance in 2022 when he attended Super Bowl LVI in Los Angeles alongside Eugenie. The pair were spotted chatting and enjoying the game from the stands, marking one of the few times a senior royal had been seen at the NFL's biggest event. Their relaxed outing highlighted the Duke's continued interest in major US sporting events following his move to California.