Princess Anne thinks son-in-law Mike Tindall's favourite hobby is 'arduous' - this is what she'd rather do instead
She once shared her feelings about this sport and they weren't particularly complementary
Princess Anne doesn't mince her words and plenty of her quips have become iconic, from her response to her would-be kidnapper in 1974 to her belief that there's "no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing". Her directness makes her who she is and she's been equally honest about her son-in-law's favourite pastime.
Mike Tindall has embraced golf after retiring as a professional rugby player and has hosted the ISPS Handa Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic since 2014. His wife Zara plays too, but the Princess Royal once declared, "Golf seems to me to be an arduous way to go for a walk".
According to The Telegraph, she reportedly added that she'd "prefer to take the dogs out" instead. This comment is very *her* and I'm sure her canine companions would appreciate her view, even if she and Mike might have to agree to disagree.
The retired rugby star has been married to Zara for just under fifteen years, so he'll be very used to his mother-in-law's directness by now. Golf, like any sport, isn't going to be for everyone and it equals out as Mike doesn't share Anne's passion for horse riding.
In an interview with woman&home for our July issue, he told royal correspondent Emily Andrews that his daughters Mia and Lena "both ride, like their mum" but it's "not a sport [he's] good at".
"No horse wants some guy weighing 107 kilos on it," he explained. "So I respect them, they respect me and we keep to our own paths."
Both Princess Anne and Zara Tindall have competed at the Olympics and Zara went on to win silver as part of the British equestrian team at London 2012. She was even presented with her medal by her mum, in her capacity as President of the British Olympic Association.
Although Mike stays away from horse riding and the Princess Royal reportedly thinks golf is "arduous", they are both committed rugby fans. Unfortunately for them, they're not on the same side, as Anne has been Patron of Scottish Rugby since 1986 and Mike used to play for England.
The King's sister is regularly seen cheering on Scotland at matches wearing the team scarf and she and Zara have apparently suggested to Mike that he should embrace some traditional Scottish attire.
As per Express, he previously declared, "We got married in Scotland and Zara was schooled in Scotland. Obviously, my mother-in-law is patron of Scottish Rugby. They keep on that they need to get me a pair of trews."
Trews are men's formal trousers and they're designed to sit higher on the waist. They're very smart as an alternative to a kilt but Mike hasn't been persuaded to wear a pair.
"I have spent my whole life trying to kill a Scotsman [on the rugby field] I don't want to wear their trousers," he quipped.
He might not be prepared to wear Scottish trews but he and Zara still often go up to Scotland in the summer to spend time with the family at Balmoral. This is a long-standing royal tradition that King Charles has continued and it won't be long before the royals' annual break begins.
