Mike Tindall's mum praises royal family ahead of Zara Phillips' wedding

Linda Tindall said the royals had been 'most welcoming and most kind' ahead of the nuptials this weekend

The mother of England rugby player Mike Tindall - who will marry Zara Phillips on Saturday - has spoken out about the royal family in the run up to her son’s big day, describing Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips as 'most welcoming and most kind'.

ZARA & MIKE’S WEDDING: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

Despite branding it ‘strange’ to be connected with the royals, Linda Tindall praised her future daughter-in-law for being 'nice and ordinary,' adding she is ‘delighted’ Zara and Mike have found love.

'Over time we have seen them at different things and become more relaxed with them,' she said yesterday of her family’s relationship with the royals. 

'All I can say is that her parents Anne and Mark have been most welcoming and most kind. I would, however, never call her by her first name, you have to address her as ma’am.

'It will be strange to be connected to the Royal family. We didn’t expect any of this, we are just ordinary people.'

This comes after Mike described the Windsors ‘good, fun people’ in an interview with the August edition of Reader’s Digest.

'To start with, people wondered whether our backgrounds were too different – but it’s not a problem,' he said.

'I've been on the edge of her world all the time I’ve been playing rugby. I know [Princes] William and Harry because they are great England supporters, and I’ve played against Peter [Zara’s brother, who represented the Scottish Schools team].

'Zara’s mum is patron of the Scottish Rugby Union so I’ve known her for years. They’re good, fun people – all of them. They’re just a normal family.'

Zara and Mike will tie the knot in a private family ceremony at Canongate Kirk on Edinburgh’s Royal Mile on Saturday.

The lucky couple will hold a pre-wedding cocktail party on the Royal Britannia yacht, with a glittering reception at the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

ZARA & MIKE’S WEDDING: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW

ZARA PHILLIPS & MIKE TINDALL'S RELATIONSHIP IN PICS