Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Style at Large
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Winter Shoe Trends
    • Slick-Backed Buns
    • OleHenriksen
    • Holiday Candles
    • Statement Red Socks
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    Two "Refreshingly Normal" Royals Are Supporting Prince George in His Next Kingship Quest, Says One Royal Biographer

    "Look at the two people in his life who hold no rank at all."

    Amy Mackelden's avatar
    By Amy Mackelden
    Published 26 July 2026 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Prince George wears a navy suit with a striped tie and has floppy dark blonde hair
    (Image credit: Getty Images/Karwai Tang/WireImage)
    Jump to category:
    • Shop Books About the Royals
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Prince George is embarking on an important step towards the throne later this year, with the future King set to attend boarding school at Eton College. Having already undergone several kingship lessons, Prince William's son is likely quietly getting ready to become the heir apparent one day. And according to one royal expert, the 13-year-old royal can turn to two "refreshingly normal" royal relatives whenever he needs advice.

    In an interview with the Daily Mail, royal biographer Robert Jobson suggested that Prince George's godmother, Zara Tindall, is an important figure in the young royal's life. Her husband, former rugby player Mike Tindall, is also highlighted as a key person George can rely upon.

    "Watch Zara with George, and there is no deference in it," Jobson told the outlet. "She teases him. He is easy with her the way children are easy with adults who want nothing from them."

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    Jobson continued, "Then there is Mike, who is not a godparent and has become something better. He talks to him about losing, the one subject nobody else raises, because everybody else is invested in the boy winning."

    Having played rugby professionally, Mike has a unique perspective, which he can share with George, Jobson noted.

    You may like
    • Prince George smiling in a white button up shirt For Prince George, Eton Offers the Chance to “Stand on His Own”
    • King Charles waving in a blue suit; Prince George wearing his Eton College uniform King Charles Could Recreate One of Queen Elizabeth's Eton Rituals
    • Mike Tindall wearing a gray suit and smiling Mike Tindall Talks to Prince George About a “Subject Nobody Else Raises”

    Zara Tindall wearing a white dress with flowers and a pink headband next to Mike Tindall wearing a suit and top hat

    Having played rugby professionally, Mike has a unique perspective, which he can share with George.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    "Mike has lost in front of 80,000 people," the biographer said. "He can be funny about it the next morning."

    According to Jobson, Mike's demeanor will also be a positive influence on the future King: "No airs and graces about the man."

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    The ultimate daily digest for women of power, purpose, and style.

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Despite being Princess Anne's daughter, Zara was raised without an official royal title, allowing her to lead a relatively normal life in many ways.

    Having previously interviewed Zara, Jobson called her "brilliant," "confident," and "refreshingly normal."

    Mike Tindall wearing a dark coat with his hand in his pockets and Zara Tindall wearing a green coat and black headband smiling at the camera

    The royal expert described Zara as "brilliant," "confident," and "refreshingly normal."

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    "[Mike] married into the most scrutinized family on earth and has never once behaved like a man who married up," Jobson told the outlet. "Two world champions [Zara as an Olympian, Mike as a professional rugby star]. Neither remotely impressed by any of it. That is the lesson."

    Their discretion, too, is notable: "They have never sold access or traded overtly on the royal name," Jobson explained.

    Ultimately, Jobson believes that Zara and Mike's real life experiences will provide George with the insight and advice he needs in the future.

    Shop Books About the Royals

    Royal Trivia

    Ulysses Press
    'Royal Trivia'
    $19
    SHOP NOW

    Yes, Ma'am

    Biteback Publishing
    'Yes, Ma'am'
    $28
    SHOP NOW

    Prince William

    Pegasus Books
    'Prince William'
    $21
    SHOP NOW

    The Making of a King

    Pegasus Books
    'The Making of a King'
    $33
    SHOP NOW

    The Princess Royal

    Sapere Books
    'The Princess Royal'
    $13
    SHOP NOW

    American Crown

    Pegasus Books
    'American Crown'
    $28
    SHOP NOW

    Cooking and the Crown

    Ten Speed Press
    'Cooking and the Crown'
    $33
    SHOP NOW

    The New Royal Family - Prince George, William and Kate

    John Blake
    'The New Royal Family'
    $14
    SHOP NOW

    Explore More
    Prince George Prince William Princess Catherine
    Amy Mackelden
    Amy Mackelden
    Social Links Navigation
    Weekend Editor

    Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town & Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.

    Read more
    Mike Tindall wearing a gray suit and smiling
    Royals Mike Tindall Talks to Prince George About a “Subject Nobody Else Raises”
    By Kristin Contino
    King Charles laughing and talking to Zara Tindall and Mike Tindall at Royal Ascot
    Royals This Royal "Brings a Whole New Fan Base" to the Family, Says Former Butler
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Prince William Arthur Edwards
    Royals Royal Photographer Shares Prince William’s Advice That Puts Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis At Ease
    By Christine Ross
    Mike Tindall and Zara Tindall attend Royal Ascot
    Royals Zara Tindall Has Perfected the “Royal Balancing Act,” According to Royal Editor
    By Christine Ross
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    The Royal Family stands on the Buckingham Palace balcony
    Royals Princess Kate's Ally Is Labeled "Most Well-Behaved Royal"
    Prince William and Princess Kate stand behind King Charles while all three look serious and wear black
    Royals How Kate and William Are Ditching "Institutional Secrecy"
     
     
    For Halloween, Prince Louis picks up a pumpkin at the patch in an adorable throwback snap, taken by mom Princess Kate
    Royals Prince Louis's Mischievous Side Is on Display in Throwback Snap
    The exterior of Anmer Hall on the Sandringham estate
    Royals Prince William Reacts to Some Terrifying News About His Country House
     
     
    Latest in News
    The Royal Family stands on the Buckingham Palace balcony
    Royals Princess Kate's Ally Is Labeled "Most Well-Behaved Royal"
    Prince William and Princess Kate stand behind King Charles while all three look serious and wear black
    Royals How Kate and William Are Ditching "Institutional Secrecy"
     
     
    Zoe Kravitz wears leopard print shoes and capri pants to film with Jamie Dornan in New York City
    Celebrity Style Zoë Kravitz Confirms Leopard Print Shoes Are a Neutral
    Charli XCX and Hailey Bieber attend Kendall Jenner's Halloween birthday party
    Celebrity Style Charli XCX Trials BDSM for Kendall Jenner's Birthday Party
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.