Is Mike Tindell Under The Royal Thumb Too? Asked Permission To Appear On 'I'm A Celebrity'

Mike Tindellappeared on a season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Hereand the former Rugby player asked senior royal Prince William for permission to appear on the popular UK reality competition show.

Tindell spoke about his experience on his podcast, The Good, the Bad and the Rugby, when prompted by a caller who asked had the rare opportunity to ask him about his extended family, the royals. Seeing all the buzz around the family, they wanted to know just how much control they had over him and Zara. Like did he need permission?

He said that he didn’t need to get permission, but he certainly ran the idea by Prince William out of courtesy. “You don't want to upset anyone,” he said while answering the awkward question. “I spoke to the Prince of Wales about it and he said ‘Great, go have fun’.”

Tindell went on to share that unlike Harry and Meg he seems to be able to do a lot of random things. He admits he never received a warning about what he could and could not do or share about the private family.

However, he did admit that when the family came up in conversation, he kept it short and didn’t reveal too much information, mostly so they wouldn’t be broadcasted. The least interest the better, it seems.

Tindell has been married to William’s cousin, Zara, 41 for over 10 years. He sometimes shares stories about being around his wife and her family like the time he split his pants in front of Princess Anne, his mother-in-law.

“I was dancing on the dance floor. I had like flares on, full outfit, but it was quite tight,” Tindell shared on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here. “Nothing ever fits a rugby player's bum and legs. So, I was dancing with my mother-in-law, and I did a ‘slut drop’ in front of my mother-in-law.”

“Ripped my trousers, straight in front of her,” he goes on. “It happened to be that the boxers that I had on at that time said ‘nibble my nuts.’ As I've turned round, she's gone, ‘I'd rather not.’”

The royal by marriage ended up in fourth place and was ultimately happy with how it ended for him. While he didn’t win, he was impressed with how well his body withstood the survivor-type competition show.

In an exclusive interview with The Mirror after he exited the show, Tindell said, “It's been a long time. I can feel my body was getting ready to go. I'm pretty comfortable with it.” He went on to say, it was for the best. “It's been a lot of laughs," he added. "That is the best thing. You can get through anything when the humor is good.”

Overall, the athlete made a good call by protecting his wife and her family and keeping those conversations to a minimum. If we learned anything about “the institution” it’s that they allegedly don’t like when others get the attention, they deserve.