Princess Anne was kept waiting due to Mike Tindall's cheeky move, the former England rugby captain has revealed.
The 46-year-old said he deliberately kept the Princess Royal waiting while he received a trophy after England defeated Scotland at Twickenham.
His actions prompted a stern three-word response from Princess Anne: "Move on, Michael."
Princess Anne has been a longtime supporter of Scotland's rugby team since the 1980s. She was named patron of the Scottish Rugby Union in 1986 and regularly attends matches.
Princess Anne kept waiting due to Mike Tindall's cheeky move
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This created an interesting dynamic when her son-in-law's England team faced her beloved Scotland.
The Princess Royal was tasked with presenting the trophy to the winning team after the match at Twickenham. This provided Mike with a unique opportunity to playfully antagonise his mother-in-law.
In an interview, Mike recounted his deliberate attempt to prolong the trophy ceremony.
"I don't like the majority of the RFU (Rugby Football Union), but I shook every one of their hands and I kept her waiting," he told Closer UK.
Princess Anne pictured telling Mike Tindall to 'move on' after his win in 2011
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Princess Anne was clearly unimpressed by his behaviour.
"She was like 'Move on, Michael'. I was like 'Debrief over lunch tomorrow?', and she said, 'Move on, Michael'," he revealed.
Mike explained his motivation with a touch of humour: "Most fellas want to get something over on their mother-in-law."
"It's quite niche if you're the captain of the England team and you play Scotland at Twickenham and, when you win, you're receiving the trophy from your mother-in-law," he added.
Mike Tindall holding his trophy as he stood near his mother-in-law
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Zara Tindall applauding her then-fiancé Mike Tindall in 2011
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The former rugby star seemed to relish the rare opportunity to playfully tease the Princess Royal after defeating her favoured Scottish team.
This light-hearted anecdote showcases Mike's comfortable relationship with his royal mother-in-law and how they can joke about situations that might seem intense to outsiders.
Mike has occupied a unique position in the Royal Family since marrying Zara Phillips in 2011, with Queen Elizabeth II's blessing.
The couple wed at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh that July. At the time of his marriage, Mike was still playing professional rugby, captaining the England team.
His impressive career included 75 appearances for England and 181 for Gloucester, where he played from 2005 until 2014.
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