Mike Tindall was forced to admit "I don't know what to say" when he was grilled about the Royal Family live on Good Morning Britain.
The rugby star appeared on the show alongside former teammate James Haskell to promote their new book 'The Good, the Bad and the Rugby - Unleashed', which follows on from their podcast by the same name, co-hosted with Alex Payne.
But Mike, who married Zara Tindall in 2011, was thrown off when the conversation turned to his relationship with his royal mother-in-law, Princess Anne.
Presenter Susanna Reid asked: "What do you call Princess Anne?" Mike sheepishly revealed that when it comes to addressing Princess Anne, he opts for: "Ma'am. Ma'am not mum."
Undeterred by her guest's blushes, Susanna continued: "You're used to hanging out with the Royals so it's normal for you to be in Buckingham Palace and in the drawing room."
Co-host Ed Balls added: "It's even better he came from Wakefield to Windsor, it's a Prince and Pauper tale for the modern time isn't it?", to which Mike admitted: I don't know what to say to that."
The rugby legend confessed that his flustered performance on the famous sofa was made more difficult by getting just three hours sleep before the interview because he had been partying with his former teammates.
Susanna moved the interview on while sticking firmly to a royal theme by asking James about the Prince and Princess of Wales' appearances on their podcast. James said: "I think it's an amazing opportunity for us. We saw them at their best and their wicked sense of humour. In the country in particular we put them on a pedestal but they are a regular family."
Royal insiders say that Mike had a good relationship with his wife's late grandmother, previously paying tribute to Queen Elizabeth II on his podcast. When the Queen passed away on the 8th of September 2022, Mike published a heartfelt statement explaining: "It's been sad, emotional but happy. In some ways amazing. To see the family come so close together overnight."
He captured the grief of the nation when he added: "It's like the world has lost its grandmother in some way."
The father of three reflected: "You never predict it. A 96-year-old lady, you know it's going to happen but you're never ready for when it does."
Mike also described how the sad news shook his wife. He said: "Watching what Zara had to go through, obviously she loved the Queen beyond everything else. Their connection with horses, they had a real bond around that."
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