Mike Tindall knows 'what he can and cannot say' on I'm a Celebrity
He's well versed in the royal way according to one expert


As you might have heard, Mike Tindall is competing on the new series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!, the first member of the Royal Family to appear on the ITV reality show.
This might seem like a pretty daring choice for a royal, even a non-working royal like Mike, but one expert thinks the former rugby player — who is married to Zara Tindall — knows exactly what he's doing.
"I expect Mike will be well aware of what he can say and cannot say whilst on the show," royal reporter Charles Rae tells Marie Claire on behalf of Slingo.
"He is shrewd, so I wouldn't expect he would reveal any family secrets.
"However, that does not mean that some people will not want to cause mischief and quiz him on the royals, particularly Harry and Meghan.
"Mike has appeared on various programmes in the past and he has managed to keep quiet about family matters.
"His Royal Family topics, if there are any, will be mainly about things the general public know. I suspect Matt Hancock is likely to have a much tougher time!"
But, Charles acknowledges, nobody is perfect, and it's of course possible that Mike could slip up. Still, this wouldn't be a disaster, the expert predicts.
"The Royal Family has coped with all sorts of things the past few years, so I’m sure they will cope in the unlikely event Mike speaks out of turn," he projects.
"I am sure he will have discussed matters, particularly with Zara and also senior palace aides."
Charles believes that Mike, being a former professional athlete, will fare just fine as he attempts to survive in the jungle. He also thinks that certain royals will be eager to watch his performance.
"Mike and Zara are popular within the Royal Family, with close ties to William and Catherine," Charles says.
"They often spend time together and have children of similar ages, so it is all happy families."
He adds, "Zara will clearly be glued to the screen, but I also suspect his mother-in-law, Princess Anne, will be tuning in as well.
"William and Catherine, who are close to the Tindalls, will want to see how he gets on. I expect the King and Queen will be getting progress reports and might just occasionally tune in."
I'm A Celebrity continues tonight at 9pm on ITV.
Marie Claire Newsletter
Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!
-
As a fashion editor I’m super picky when it comes to presents, but this luxury brand nails Christmas gifting every time
All I want for Christmas is one of these picks
By Jazzria Harris
-
Royal experts weigh in on whether Kate Middleton actually watches The Crown
By Jenny Proudfoot
-
Stocking filler ideas for all the family that they will *actually* use
30 stocking filler ideas that won't just collect dust
By Dionne Brighton
-
The Royal Family put on a united front as they pose for a new photograph at Buckingham Palace
It comes shortly after Omid Scobie's controversial biography
By Lauren Hughes
-
The 5 biggest claims from Endgame, the explosive new royal book from Omid Scobie
It has been making a lot of headlines this week
By Lauren Hughes
-
Royal biography Endgame pulled after Dutch translation 'names' royal who 'questioned' Archie's skin colour
Omid Scobie's latest royal book is already proving controversial just a day after its release
By Jadie Troy-Pryde
-
Kate took elocution lessons to sound 'more posh' than William, according to a royal expert
Apparently the Princess had several sessions
By Lauren Hughes
-
Prince William and Kate Middleton's rare PDA was caught on camera during a royal outing
A sweet and candid moment
By Lauren Hughes
-
Prince William fields a cheeky question about his bank balance during a royal engagement
He was put on the spot by an inquisitive 11 year old
By Lauren Hughes
-
Why Charles and Harry’s birthday phonecall is a 'turning point' for their relationship
Is a reconciliation is on the cards?
By Lauren Hughes
-
This was Kate Middleton's biggest struggle when she joined the Royal Family
Her fear is very relatable
By Lauren Hughes