Former England rugby player Mike Tindall reportedly made a brutal swipe about Prince Harry during the late Queen's Jubilee celebrations.
The former rugby star and I'm A Celebrity contestant allegedly referred to the Duke of Sussex's behaviour as that of a "b***end", a source overheard. The dig is said to have come after Harry and Meghan had left the firm, before he released his tell all memoir Spare, the Mirror reports.
He made the comment to a fellow guest at a reception held after the televised Platinum Party concert at Buckingham Palace on June 4, 2022, as first reported by the Daily Express. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were notably absent from all of the jubilee events, apart from a thanksgiving service held the day before the concert.
Television footage showed Prince Harry and Meghan Markle approach Mr Tindall and his wife Zara, the Queen's granddaughter, following the ceremony on June 3. Mr Tindall appeared to visibly avoid speaking to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex by staring into the distance and then speaking to other royals.
Speaking about the clip, body language expert Judi James told the Express: “With Mike’s closeness to William in mind it also appeared to have created a bit of a dilemma as Harry stepped out into Zara’s group as they waited for their transport. Zara looks happy to chat and even turns fully to talk to Harry here, who is looking anxious and keen to get into his own car.
“Mike though remains facing forward, looking about and holding his order of service up with a look of awkwardness. In the end he talks to Viscount Lindley, who turns his own back on Harry, cutting the two men off from Zara’s conversation with Harry.
“This doesn’t appear to be Mike’s normal style of behaviour as he usually looks too easy-going and too tough to get involved in politics and it could be that his attention was taken arranging the right cars, but there are no signs of any farewell from him, either.”
Mr Tindall did not respond when approached for comment.
Discussing the Platinum Party, Mr Tindall previously told The Good, The Bad, and The Rugby podcast: "It was at the concert where there was a bit more of a chat together because we went in and had a drink with everyone after. I think the committee that put it together did an incredible job.”
Harry is to return to the UK for King Charles' Coronation in May, with wife Meghan staying at their home in Montecito, California, with children Archie and Lilibet. It's expected that Harry will not stay long, however, and is keen to fly back soon after the celebrations to spend son Archie's fourth birthday with his family, which falls on the same day as the Coronation.
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