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Prince George Has a New 'Fun Uncle' in Mike Tindall Amid Harry’s Absence, Says Expert

Prince Harry was over the moon when his nephew, Prince George, was born on 22 July 2013. In his memoir, the elated Duke fondly recalled how he hoped to ‘pop in’ and wrestle with little George after becoming an uncle. However, following Harry’s move to the US, a new ‘fun uncle’ has become George’s shoulder for support. According to body language expert Judi James, Mike Tindall has taken Harry’s place as his favorite uncle, thanks to his jovial and cheeky personality.

James told The Sun that although Harry and Tindall share the same traits of ‘fearlessness and irreverence,’ the latter holds more respect for the Firm. She said, "George’s original ‘fun uncle’ and adult playmate did that infamous bolt to the US, leaving a huge Harry-shaped gap in the young boy’s life that Mike has more than filled." Reflecting on how Tindall supports George in his own way, she added, "In the case of Prince George, whose destiny is all about duty and responsible behavior, Mike’s presence in his life is completely invaluable. He will joke with the royals, but he won’t be critical or indiscreet."

Doubling down on their close bond, the body language expert recalled an incident between Tindall and George during a 2023 Christmas walkabout, where Tindall hugged and kissed his nephew. She opined, "Mike’s behavior during their Xmas walk to and from church showed he will probably always treat George as he would treat his own children, i.e, playfully and with a complete lack of protocol." She continued, "Mike just took over the action by grabbing George for a stunning and very touchingly hearty partial hug and kissing him on the side of the head, showing not just spontaneous affection but also a sense of reward and pride in the young boy for the way he was doing such a good job." 

George’s close bond with his new uncle comes as no surprise, considering how comfortable his dad, Prince William, is around the former rugby star. Speaking of their brotherly bond, royal expert Tom Quinn once told the Daily Express, "I’ve spoken to a couple of people who know William well, and he really does get on very well with Mike Tindall." The expert further alleged that Harry objected to William and Tindall’s growing bond, saying, "So yes, he is close to William. He has none of the emotional baggage and difficulties that William has with Harry. I think Harry has been aware of this for some time, and it does upset him."

Echoing Quinn’s claims, royal author Ingrid Seward believed that the Prince of Wales lets himself loose in Tindall's company. She told The Telegraph, "Mike gets funnier under the influence of alcohol and can be totally outrageous. William can’t do this anymore, as he’s too aware of his responsibilities. But he can live vicariously through Mike." Former Palace secretary Dickie Arbiter agreed, revealing that Tindall and William's down-to-earth nature makes them like 'two peas from the same pod.'