During an interview at the event, Mike and Zara explained that, while they had thoroughly enjoyed their time Down Under, there was a very important reason why they had to get back to Britain, where they live at Gatcombe Park, the Princess Royal’s estate. ‘I’ve got a few competitions this year, and there’s a lot going on with the kids,’ Zara explained, referencing her three children, Mia, Lena, and Lucas Tindall. ‘We missed Mia’s birthday, so we’ve got to get home,’ Mike added, before Zara joked ‘she’s not very happy with us!’ The oldest Tindall daughter turned 12 on Saturday 17 January.
Mike and Zara missed the 12th birthday of their daughter, Mia Tindall, who turned 12 this January
Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images
Mia Tindall, like her parents, can always be counted on to lighten up an engagement, whether she’s playing alongside the Wales children at Sandringham Christmas celebrations or standing side-by-side with her cousin, Savannah Phillips, at the Cheltenham Racecourse New Year’s Day meet.
Zara’s fashion has made headlines throughout her 2026 outing to the Gold Coast, where she played polo alongside her fellow ambassadors, Nacho Figueras and Billy Slater, a close friend of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The Ambassadors are all thought to be great friends, though, as Mike admitted in an interview ahead of the race, things can get a little heated when it comes to competition time. ‘Look, it gets competitive, I’m not even going to lie about it,’ he told The Star Gold Coast. ‘I think there’ll be some early nights – not by me obviously, I’m here for the long haul – but it gets very competitive.’
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