Zara and Mike Tindall considered moving to Australia year before Megxit

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s move to California sparked a royal furore in January 2020 that is still going on to this day.

But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex aren’t the first royal couple to consider leaving the UK, with Harry’s cousin Zara Tindall (née Phillips) revealing in 2019 she was thinking about moving her family Down Under.

The 41-year-old daughter of Princess Anne and her former rugby player husband Mike Tindall, 44, already spend a few months a year in Australia, and often speak of their fondness for the country.

Harry and Meghan aren’t the first royal couple to consider leaving the UK, with Harry’s cousin Zara Tindall revealing in 2019 she and her husband Mike were thinking about moving their family the Australia. (The Tindalls are pictured in Byron Bay, NSW, earlier this week)

The 41-year-old daughter of Princess Anne and her former rugby player husband, 44, already spend a few months a year in Australia, and often speak of their fondness for the country. (The couple is pictured on Gold Coast, Queensland, on January 10)  

The Tindalls, who are parents to daughters Mia Grace, eight, and Lena Elizabeth, four, and son Lucas Philip, one, have made no secret of their love affair with Australia.

They first met at the Wharf Bar in Manly, Sydney, when Mike was drowning his sorrows after being cut from the England squad during the 2003 World Cup ahead of the semi-finals.

Zara, who was on a gap year at the time, was introduced to the fly-half by Prince Harry, who was in Australia to cheer on the England squad. 

Since marrying marrying in 2011, the couple have visited Australia almost every year, only taking a break between 2020 and 2021 during the Covid-19 lockdowns. 

Speaking to The Australian Women’s Weekly in December 2019, a month before Harry and Meghan stepped down from their royal duties, Zara revealed she was considering trading life on her mother’s estate in Gloucestershire for sunny Australia.

The couple (pictured at Surfers Paradise in 2019), who are not working royals and do not hold titles, keep a relatively low profile despite their status as professional sportspeople

The Tindalls, who are parents to daughters Mia Grace, eight, and Lena Elizabeth, four, and son Lucas Philip, one, have made no secret of their love affair with Australia. (They are pictured enjoying a drink on their most recent trip Down Under)

Zara, an accomplished equestrian and Olympic silver medalist, said: ‘Probably not while I’m still competing. It would be a little bit hard commuting. But after that… yes, I think if an opportunity came up we’d definitely think about it.’ 

‘Early January is bleak over here [England] so it’s nice to go and have a bit of sun. I love the lifestyle of Australia and the ability to get up early, go on the beach – especially for the kids, taking them in the ocean is brilliant,’ added Mike.

The couple, who are not working royals and do not hold titles, keep a relatively low profile despite their status as professional sportspeople – and the laid-back lifestyle Down Under seems to suit them.

The Tindalls rang in the 2020 New Year in Sydney with an A-list crowd, including Rebel Wilson 

Mike and Zara were interviewed on Channel Seven’s Sunrise at the Adelaide 500 in December

‘It’s not a rushed lifestyle. I think it’s a great place and we enjoy it so much,’ Mike explained.

‘Mia loves swimming. Of course, the climate allows you to be able to go swimming all day every day. When we first took her to Australia she was 11 months old, we kickstarted her love of water,’ Zara added.

The Tindalls are currently on the Gold Coast, Queensland, as Zara is an ambassador for the Magic Millions equestrian event.   

The royal couple were ambassadors for the Adelaide 500 (pictured trackside at the event)

Zara was announced as the first Magic Millions Racing Women Ambassador in 2012, and now travels to Surfers Paradise every year for the Gold Coast Yearling Sale, seven days of auctions that culminate in a major race meeting where all contenders are horses bought at previous Magic Millions auctions.

The week also involves showjumping and polo events, which Zara took part in.

‘This is an ongoing partnership that sees Zara attend events every year to present gifts to the winners,’ Mischa Jolin, the managing director of influencer, PR and branding agency EdenCancan, previously told Femail.

Such is Mike’s love for Australia, he paid tribute to the Queen following her death in September by sharing this photo of the Sydney Opera House lit up with a photo of Her Majesty 

‘She is an integral part of the brand which empowers women within the equestrian field. I would anticipate this partnership is worth circa £125,000 [AUD$219,000] per year.’

The couple were spotted mingling with Aussie A-listers, including Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky, at the Queensland society event last Sunday.

They later took a trip down to Byron Bay, a beachside town located in the far northeastern corner of NSW.

After spending time in Queensland, the Tindalls and their friends took a trip down to Byron Bay, a beachside town located in the far northeastern corner of NSW

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In December, they visited Down Under for the Adelaide 500 motor racing event before heading back to England for Christmas.

The Tindalls previously rang in the 2020 New Year in Sydney with an A-list crowd, including Rebel Wilson and Prince Harry’s best friend Nacho Figueras.    

Mike also visited Australia in November 2022 to take part in the British version of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, which was filmed at the Springbrook National Park, near Murwillumbah, NSW.

Olympian Zara, 41, looked chic in her equestrian gear in Surfers Paradise on January 10

Zara came out to support her husband and was spotted in Murwillumbah and Byron Bay.

After filming wrapped, they spent several weeks in Australia, before returning to celebrate Christmas with King Charles at Sandringham. 

Such is Mike’s love for Australia, he paid tribute to the Queen following her death in September by sharing a photo of the Sydney Opera House lit up with a photo of Her Majesty.

Mike shared this photo as he and Zara attended the Magic Millions tournament last week 

If Zara and Mike were to move abroad, it would no doubt be a blow for the Royal Family given their status as popular, albeit non-working, members.

But it would be unlikely to draw the same attention or dismay caused Megxit, given that Harry and Meghan were working and titled members of the family when they stepped down in January 2020.

Zara, who is the twentieth-in-line to the throne, does not work on behalf of the King and does not get money from the Sovereign Grant. 

In another snap shared by the former rugby ace, he affectionately put his arm around Zara