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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Jennifer Newton

Family member was 'dead against' Zara and Mike Tindall's marriage

Ten years ago today, one of the royal family's most popular couples, Zara and Mike Tindall wed in a beautiful ceremony.

The service, in Scotland, was attended by Zara's grandmother the Queen and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, who themselves had tied the knot just months earlier.

As the newlyweds emerged from Edinburgh's Canongate Kirk after the service, Zara and former England rugby player Mike, shared a kiss and looked blissfully happy as they set off for their reception.

However, there was one relative who wasn't happy about the marriage - and was actually "dead against it" - Mike's late grandmother.

Zara and Mike Tindall on their wedding day in 2011 (PA)

Mike's dad Philip revealed this last year in an interview with the Sunday Times, saying: "Linda's mum [Mike's grandmother] was dead against it. In her day, royalty married royalty and she thought the wedding would be shunned.

"But right from the start the whole family was just lovely."

Sadly, Mike's grandmother never got to meet Zara but Philip says he knows she would have approved of her grandson's wife.

Zara and Mike met in 2003 in Australia during the Rugby World Cup (Getty Images)
Zara and Mike married at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, where guests included Zara's grandmother the Queen (AFP/Getty Images)

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He added: "I know she'd have loved her as much as we do because she and Mike are perfect for each other."

Zara and Mike's relationship started in 2003 after the pair were introduced by her cousin Prince Harry at the Rugby World Cup in Australia.

They announced their engagement in 2010 and on her wedding day, Zara wore a stunning wedding dress by Stewart Parvin - a favourite designer the Queen.

After the church service, the royal family and other guests headed to Holyroodhouse for the evening reception.

Speaking about their romance, Mike's previously said: "I've never been in love before, but Zara is the love of my life. No doubt."

Zara and Mike have two daughters - Mia and Lena - and a son called Lucas Philip (Getty Images)

A year after they wed, Mike was in the stands supporting Zara when she won a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics as part of the equestrian three-day eventing team.

In 2014, they welcomed their first child, a daughter called Mia who is now seven, and have another daughter called Lena, aged three.

Earlier this year, they welcomed their first son, Lucas Philip, with Zara giving birth on the bathroom floor at their home in Gloucestershire.

Mike revealed the news of the new arrival on his podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby, where he hailed his wife as a "warrior".

Speaking about the birth, he said: "Fortunately Zara's friend Dolly [Maude] is, she's actually more important than I am at making sure she's been at all three of my children's births, she was there and recognised that we wouldn't have got to the hospital in time, so it was run into the gym, get a mat, get into the bathroom, towels down, brace brace brace!"

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