Prince William's role within the Royal Family is only getting more important, and with brother Prince Harry out for the count, he needs all the support he can get.

Because of this, royal expert Jennie Bond has suggested that the Prince of Wales may call on two members of his extended family in particular to perform smaller duties without actually becoming working royals.

"Although they don't have titles, they obviously have the cachet of being so much part of the extended Royal Family," Jennie says of William's cousin Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall.

"They have managed to use that commercially without getting into too much bother."

As for why Zara and Mike are a perfect fit for a background supporting role, Jennie explained: "They are both very close to William, and if he calls on them again (as he did at a garden party last year), they will definitely agree."

Just to be clear, though, Jennie isn't suggesting that Zara and Mike could become working royals alongside — among others — Zara's mum Princess Anne. If they were to step in to support William, it would not be "to an official working role, nor do I think the public would want to fund any more working royals."

If Zara were to help William out in this way, it could be great news for his relationship with his estranged brother.

In October, a source told Woman's Day: "Zara figures there couldn’t be a better time for her to try and broker peace. Zara feels she’s the only one who can get through to both of them [Harry and William]."

The source added at the time: "No one likes to admit it, but for all his mistakes, everyone misses Harry."

However, William is reportedly still very upset with the Duke of Sussex, and has shown no signs of extending an olive branch over the last couple of years, so any progress on that front remains wishful thinking.

Princess Anne is confirmed to be recovering in hospital after a reported horse 'incident' on her royal estate in Gloucestershire. The Princess Royal is currently receiving treatment for 'minor injuries and concussion', according to the Palace, and is remaining at Southmead Hospital in Bristol under observation 'as a precautionary measure'.

Announcing the news in a statement released today, Monday 24th June, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: "The Princess Royal has sustained minor injuries and concussion following an incident on the Gatcombe Park estate yesterday evening. Her Royal Highness remains in Southmead Hospital, Bristol, as a precautionary measure for observation and is expected to make a full and swift recovery. The King has been kept closely informed and joins the whole Royal Family in sending his fondest love and well-wishes to The Princess for a speedy recovery."

While the cause of the incident has not been confirmed by the Palace, it has been reported that her injuries are 'consistent with a potential impact from a horse’s head or legs', per BBC. A royal spokesperson added that she is 'recovering well' and in a comfortable condition, stating: "Her Royal Highness is receiving appropriate expert care. No further details are being shared at this stage. Her Royal Highness will remain in Southmead Hospital unless or until her medical team advise otherwise. Sir Tim Laurence accompanied Her Royal Highness to hospital."

Princess Anne has famously devoted much of her time to horses and equestrian sports, and was the first British Royal to be selected for the Olympic Team representing Great Britain, competing in the 1976 games in Montreal. Her daughter Zara Tindall is also a keen equestrian, winning an Olympic Silver medal in 2012 as part of the Great Britain Eventing Team.

Following the advice from her medical team, Princess Anne's engagements have been postponed this week. She will not attend Tuesday's royal banquet as part of the Japanese State visit, and her scheduled trip to Canada has also been cancelled.

We're wishing Princess Anne a swift recovery.

The British royal family has to be the most talked-about in the world, with the Mountbatten-Windsors front and centre. Earlier this year, King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales - two leaders within the fold - temporarily stepped back from duties amid respective medical issues.

In February, King Charles announced that he received a cancer diagnosis following a hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement and a month later, Kate Middleton - who underwent abdominal surgery in January - shared that she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy after post-operative tests had found that cancer was present.

As a result, a number of the senior royals have taken time away from their duties to recover and support one another, and consequently it is falling to other members of the royal family to step up. But as Princess Anne, Sophie Wessex and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie's responsibilities are elevated, the line of succession has been making headlines. 

So, where does the line to the throne stand currently? 

Read on to find out the official line of succession, from Prince William and Prince Harry to Mia and Lucas Tindall.

Line of succession for the British Royal Family

1. Prince William (son of King Charles)

2. Prince George (son of Prince William, grandson of King Charles)

3. Princess Charlotte (daughter of Prince William, granddaughter of King Charles)

4. Prince Louis (son of Prince William, grandson of King Charles)

5. Prince Harry (son of King Charles)

6. Prince Archie (son of Prince Harry)

7. Princess Lilibet (daughter of Prince Harry)

8. Prince Andrew (brother of King Charles, son of the late Queen Elizabeth II)

9. Princess Beatrice (daughter of Prince Andrew)

10. Miss Sienna Mapelli Mozzi (daughter of Princess Beatrice)

11. Princess Eugenie (daughter of Prince Andrew)

12. Master August Brooksbank (son of Princess Eugenie)

13. Master Ernest Brooksbank (son of Princess Eugenie)

14. Prince Edward (brother of King Charles, son of late Queen Elizabeth II)

15. James, Earl of Wessex (son of Prince Edward, grandson of late Queen Elizabeth II)

16. Lady Louise Mountbatten (daughter of Prince Edward, granddaughter of late Queen Elizabeth II)

17. Princess Anne (sister of King Charles, daughter of late Queen Elizabeth II)

18. Mr Peter Phillips (son of Princess Anne, grandson of late Queen Elizabeth II)

19. Miss Savannah Phillips (daughter of Peter Phillips, great-granddaughter of late Queen Elizabeth II)

20. Miss Isla Phillips (daughter of Peter Phillips, great-granddaughter of late Queen Elizabeth II)

21. Mrs Zara Tindall (daughter of Princess Anne, granddaughter of late Queen Elizabeth II)

22. Miss Mia Tindall (daughter of Zara Tindall, great-granddaughter of late Queen Elizabeth II)

23. Miss Lena Tindall (daughter of Zara Tindall, great-granddaughter of late Queen Elizabeth II)

24. Master Lucas Tindall (son of Zara Tindall, great-granddaughter of late Queen Elizabeth II)

We will continue to update this story.

Mike Tindall impressed many when he embarked on the ITV show I'm A Celebrity ... Get Me Out of Here!. 

The former professional England rugby player was unfazed by the critters and Bushtucker Trials, which saw him come fourth place to the show's 2022 champion and retired Lioness, Jill Scott. 

Since, there has been growing speculation the 44-year-old sportsman has a soft spot for Australia after his time down under, and could be relocating with his wife Zara Tindall - whose maiden name is Zara Phillips - and their three children, Mia, Lucas and Lena, to the other side of the world. 

Mike finally addressed the rumours of a possible move. 

Speaking previously to Hello!, he said: "Never say never.

"But it’s not on the cards."

Mike went on to clear up speculation the family of five "almost" moved, but he has assured that wasn't the case either. 

He continued: "People try to say that we almost did, but we never almost did. It's never been an actual thing where we’ve looked for a house or anything."

Although a move has not been on the cards, it's not to say the couple - who married in 2011 - dislike the country. 

He said: "We love Australia a lot and we love the lifestyle. I think it's brilliant for kids but whether we could actually move there, we're not sure."

If the fivesome were to up sticks and relocate it could be logistically complicated. 

Though Mike and Zara are not considered working royals, like Zara's cousin Prince William and mother Princess Anne, leaving the UK would mean leaving behind close relatives. 

Mike, Zara and their three children currently live with the Princess Royal and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence, at Gatcombe Park. 

Living with their extended family means their three children, as well as Mike and Zara, can enjoy quality family time together, and relocating would mean disrupting the balance, and leaving Anne behind. 

If Zara, Mike, and their brood were to move, they would not be the first to relocate further afield.  

In 2020 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit the royal family, as well as their royal duties, and have since relocated to California to start a new life as a family of four.

However, there is speculation Princess Eugenie - who is expecting her second child with husband Jack Brooksbank - could move to the US. 

Princess Anne's daughter was born Zara Phillips, inheriting her father Captain Mark Phillips' surname.

As she grew up, Zara developed a love of horses just like both of her parents, eventually becoming a professional equestrian.

As a sportswoman, she was known by her maiden name, so when she married Mike Tindall in 2011, she actually decided not to take his surname straight away, as reported by Hello!. This was so that she could continue to compete under the name she had come to be known by, which is a completely understandable decision.

Of course, many women opt to not take their spouse's surname, while others opt for a double-barrelled option or reverse traditional gender roles — with a man taking a woman's surname instead.

One reason it's quite noteworthy that Zara didn't take her husband's last name at first is that the Royal Family tends to be quite a traditional institution in general. With that in mind, many women who are born into the family are born with their own titles (e.g. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York) or are given them upon their marriage (e.g. Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon). But because Zara did not receive a royal title at birth and is not a working royal, it would have likely been expected that she take her husband's name.

Anyway, all that to say that in the end, she became Zara Tindall in 2016, after she failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics that took place that year. The royal athlete had previously competed in the London 2012 Olympics, bringing home a silver medal.

Princess Anne, as for her, competed in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, Canada, while Captain Phillips "won a team gold medal at the 1972 Olympics and a team silver medal in 1988," according to Team GB's official website. Such an athletic family, honestly.

So sweet!

Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips's half-sister Stephanie just got married to William Hosier.

The wedding, in Tetbury, was the perfect occasion for the extended family to reunite, and it sounds like it was a beautiful ceremony with goodwill from all the guests.

Princess Anne and her ex-husband Mark Phillips, Stephanie's dad, were both in attendance of course, with Mark walking his daughter (whom he shares with second wife Sandy Pflueger) down the aisle. Zara was also there, looking radiant in baby blue, as was her brother Peter, but it was the Queen's great-grandchildren who truly stole the show on the day.

Zara and Mike Tindall's daughters, Mia, 8, and Lena, 4, and Peter's daughters with Autumn Kelly, Savannah, 11, and Isla, 10, all served as adorable bridesmaids, in white dresses and blue sashes, with flowers in their hair.

"The children all seemed like a lovely unit," a source told People. "They all seemed very happy and all behaved impeccably."

The last time the girls were seen at an official event was during the Queen's Jubilee celebrations in early June.

Stephanie's wedding party painted a picture of the perfect blended family, thanks to Anne and Mark's reunion, but also because Peter and Autumn — who officially divorced in 2021 — were both there with their new partners.

Stephanie, 24, is an equestrian like both of her parents, her half-sister Zara, and her sort-of-stepmum Anne. She regularly posts about her life among horses on Instagram, which is also where she announced her engagement to William back in May 2021, sharing sweet photos of the two posing and showing off her very impressive ring, and gazing lovingly into each other's eyes. She captioned the photo with the date of their engagement, "09.05.21."

Well, this is lovely.

The usually understated Royal looked beautiful in a Stewart Parvin gown

The usually understated Royal looked beautiful in a Stewart Parvin gown

Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall Wedding

The wedding of Zara Phillips and her England rugby captain beau, Mike Tindall, was a relaxed, modern and private affair at the Canongate Kirk on Edinburgh's Mile End, see the bride's sophisticated wedding style here...

Zara Phillips Wedding Dress

Despite being one of the more typically understated royals, Zara Phillips shone in a cap- sleeved, ivory silk gown designed by one of her grandmother's favourite couturies, Stewart Parvin. Parvin is one of the Queen's top British designers and was appointed the Royal Warrent of Appointment in 2007.

Zara Phillips Wedding Dress

Despite being one of the more typically understated royals, Zara Phillips shone in a cap- sleeved, ivory silk gown designed by one of her grandmother's favourite couturies, Stewart Parvin. Parvin is one of the Queen's top British designers and was appointed the Royal Warrent of Appointment in 2007.

Zara Phillips Wedding Dress

Zara Phillips Wedding Dress

The chevron pleated bodice ends in dramatic inverted pleats on a dropped waist, designed to create a bell-shaped silhouette, while the concealed constructed corset has delicate fabric-covered buttons decorating the centre back of the gown, running from the neckline to the hem.

Zara Phillips Wedding Dress

The classic dress is an ivory silk faille duchess satin gown. Silk tulle straps fall into an elegant V at the centre back of the gown while the bust is in silk duchess satin, with simple bias-cut raw edged ribbons of top-stitched silk faille and duchess satin decorating the neckline and empire seam.

Zara Phillips Wedding Dress

In a nod to tradition, Mrs Phillips wore a Greek Key tiara lent to her by her mother, Princess Anne, while her hair was styled by the exclusive Evangelos Tsiapkinis at Michael John and make-up was kept simple by the team at Bobbi Brown.

Zara Phillips Wedding Dress

The bridal bouquet was made by the Royals' favourite florist, London based Paul Thomas, and included white calla lilies, dusty miller foliage and alpine thistles, which are the national emblem of Scotland. Mr Thomas already has a rather impressive CV, having been the florist of choice for both Zara and Peter's 21st birthdays, as well as decorating Windsor Castle for the Queen Mother's 100th birthday in 2000 and decorating St George's hall for the wedding reception of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall.

Zara Phillips Wedding Dress

The full skirt has concealed pockets and a rather subtle train - in contrast to many previous royal brides. Kate Middleton's intricate train was just shy of nine foot while Princess Diana's Elizabeth and David Emanuel dress featured a lengthy 25ft.

Zara Phillips Wedding Dress

The notorious low-key couple looked blissfully happy in the glorious sunshine- congratulations!