Prince William and Mike Tindall are 'two peas in a pod' who now share a 'brotherly relationship', according to royal experts.
While William is all but estranged from his younger sibling Harry, he has reportedly found a true friend and companion in Mike, his cousin Zara's husband since 2011.
Royal commentator Dickie Arbiter, a former Palace press secretary, believes the amicable relationship between Prince William and Mike ultimately comes down to their similar personalities.
"Mike is a pretty straight guy," he told the Telegraph. "He's down to earth, and William is too… They are two peas from the same pod, they've just had different upbringings."
William and Kate have formed a close connection with Zara and Mike (UK Press via Getty Images)And It seems that Zara’s close bond with William has also "rubbed off" on her husband. "We've seen [this] time and again in William and Mike's interactions. They are a proper family. They're not playing at it," he noted.
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Certainly, William can relax in Mike's company and they frequently tease each other - despite the prince's royal status.
Appearing on a podcast hosted by former rugby professional Rob Burrow, Mike recently revealed the nickname he has for William. "The Prince of Wales is known to me as One Pint Willy because he's not the best of drinkers," he said, before adding: "Oh my God. It's out there now. Sorry, Sir."
It perhaps wasn't a surprise to hear Mike joke about William. He reportedly once greeted the heir to the throne by shouting "How's it going, baldy?" across the room, at his own 27th birthday bash in 2005. And the response from the heir? "What's it to you, fatty?"
Mike's down-to-earth, jokey personality greatly appeals to William (James Veysey/REX)Mike - who famously appeared on I'm A Celebrity - is known to be cheeky and incredibly down-to-earth, something that William values.
Royal biographer Ingrid Seward, editor in chief of Majesty magazine, believes that Mike's appeal to William lies in the fact he embodies the kind of fun the Prince can no longer indulge in.
"Mike Tindall has that kind of sportsman camaraderie that would especially appeal to William, who was once a wild boy himself," she said. "Mike gets funnier under the influence of alcohol and can be totally outrageous. William cannot do this anymore as he is too aware of his responsibilities. But he can live vicariously through Mike."
Meanwhile, according to Telegraph Royal editor Hannah Furness, the two men share a "brotherly relationship". "[Mike] has somehow managed to find the line between being fairly indiscreet but so charming with it that nobody minds in the slightest. Even his high-risk turns on reality TV have ended up an asset to the royals: if he likes them, the public senses, they must be all right."
Crucially, Mike also gets on really well with Princess Kate; she famously appeared with William on Mike's The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast. And the two families love nothing more than spending time together, along with their young children.
Playful Mike is also a big hit with the Wales children (Getty Images)Proud dad Mike, who is also a father of three, has developed a very sweet bond with George, Charlotte and Louis. He was seen showing his playful side when he made an 'I'm watching you' gesture to Prince Louis at the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. And he was pictured putting an affectionate arm around George's shoulders on Christmas Day, while his daughter Mia walked hand-in-hand with beaming Louis.
It comes amid reports that William has completely cut ties with his younger brother, Harry. The BBC's former royal correspondent Jennie Bond recently told Times Radio: "I think as far as William is concerned, Harry really doesn't exist.
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"William has enough pressure on his heart and his head, with his wife [ Princess of Wales ] and her ongoing cancer treatment, and his father [King Charles], his job and his kids that I don't think he's got any room in his soul to worry about his estranged brother...I think William has disowned Harry."
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