Mike and Zara Tindall put on an affectionate display at Royal Ascotyesterday, as they warmly greeted everyone from Prince William to Carole and Michael Middleton.
But their tender nature is nothing new, as the couple has long been known for their friendly relationships with everyone in the Royal Family, marking themselves as key players binding members of The Firm together.
It includes the pair'sclose relationship with the Waleses -and Zara's close bond with her cousins Beatrice and Eugenie.
Speaking to The Times earlier this year, one royal source dubbed Mike, 45, and Zara, 43, the 'glue of their generation of royals, no matter how serious the occasion'.
'They can help take the family's mind off the gravity of what is going on,' they added.
Mike and Zara Tindall put on an affectionate display at Royal Ascot yesterday, as they warmly greeted everyone from Prince William to Carole and Michael Middleton. Zara pictured with Jack Brooksbank
'While some family members can be very "royal", Mike is just himself and is relaxed and playful with George, Charlotte and Louis.
'It helps that they all have children around the same age that they can fool around together privately and bring a sense of normality to what is a stressful situation for everyone involved.'
Their popularity was made clear at Wednesday's event, as Princess Anne's daughterwas snapped greeting many relatives with a kiss.
Elsewhere, William and his in-laws - the Middleton family - also shared a peck on the cheek with Zara during their day out at the Berkshire racecourse.
Next, she extended an equally warm greeting to Beatrice's mother, Sarah Ferguson, placing a hand on the duch*ess of York's shoulder.
Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Beatrice's husband, also received a warm greeting from mother-of-three Zara.
Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, 60, was the next to receive a kiss from Zara, who pulled him in with one arm to show her affectionate nature.
The tactile royal was later pictured with her arm around the Duke as they conversed during a drink reception at Ascot.
But their tender nature is nothing new, as the couple has long been known for their friendly relationships with everyone in the Royal Family , marking themselves as key players binding members of The Firm together. Mike pictured hugging Sarah Ferguson
Their popularity was made clear at Wednesday's event, as Princess Anne's daughter was snapped greeting many relatives with a kiss. Mike pictured with Princess Anne
During the reception, Zara's husband Mike showed he is just as warm as his wife. Pictured speaking with William
Mike pictured hugging Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, during day two of Royal Ascot on Wednesday
During the reception, Zara's husband Mike showed he is just as warm as his wife, giving Sarah, the duch*ess of York a warm hug.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla, who was sporting a chic turquoise ensemble, wrapped her arms around Zara, showing affection for her niece.
Sociable Zara was also snapped speaking with Prince William and his mother-in-law Carole.
The royal wrapped her arm fondly around her cousin, leaning in to give him her customary peck on the cheek.
The pair's closenessis no surprise, given the bond between Prince William and Zara, who were born just a year apart. It has also clearly extended to her husband Mike, who interviewed William for his podcast -The Good, The Bad and The Rugby - last year.
There, thePrince of Wales revealed thatZara's victory in equestrian eventing was the only occasion he'd been moved to tears while watching sports.
During the discussion atWindsor Castle, the father-of-three said: 'The only time I've ever cried when watching sport was when Zara won I think it was the European championship.
Sociable Zara was also snapped speaking with Prince William and his mother-in-law Carole yesterday
'I was down in Exmoor at the time camping. We were all huddling around the phone watching it. She was there she was blubbing away the flag was going up. I was in pieces.'
Also taking part in the podcast were William's wife, Kate and Zara's mother - Willaim's aunt - Princess Anne, herself an accomplished equestrian.
Continuing the discussion, Kate said: 'I can remember because you came back and said I've never been so proud of anyone.'
William, along with his brother Harry, were raised in Gloucestershire, just a few miles from where Zara and her brother Peter Phillips grew up. The four royal cousins were often spotted chatting and joking at royal events.
William has previously revealed how it was 'hard to keep a straight face' when sitting opposite his cousins in church.
Born just 13 months apart, Zara was reportedly a great comfort to William after his mother Diana's death in 1997.
Though she may not be a working royal and has experienced less media attention than William and Harry, the royal cousins have become protective of each other over time.
In a Channel 5 documentary, 'Zara & Anne: Like Mother Like Daughter', Victoria Arbiter said: 'For William in particular, trust is everything so when you've got a cousin that understands what it is to be a member of the Royal Family, but they don't have the same pressures associated with it, they can be a tower of strength and support.
'It's Zara's loyalty and total dedication to her family that has made her such an asset to the cousins who have had to endure the negative side of royal life.'
Though Zara and her husband Mike are not officially working royals, they still seem to be working their way towards Charles's inner circle
Such is the closeness between the cousins they are all part of a WhatsApp group where they exchange messages on upcoming events and family news.
'Me, my brother and then a few of Zara's side like her brother Pete [Phillips] and the cousins are on WhatsApp groups,' her husband Mike once revealed.
'I wouldn't say we're cutting edge, but it's just easier for some reason on WhatsApp.'
He added on a separate occasion: 'It's just what you do to try and set up get-togethers and we are going to something that is the same.
Mike Tindall and William may seem like an unlikely pairing, but the pair are often snapped sharing a joke at royal events - and can't resist a hug when they see each other in public.
William, heir to the throne, was educated at Eton before completing his degree at St Andrews. He prefers football to rugby, which was more his brother Harry's sport.
Mike attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, in Wakefield becoming a professional rugby player for Bath at the age of 18.
Yet the pair are also hands-on fathers and enjoy catching up at the polo or the races, where they often give each other warm greetings like the one caught on camera.
William and Mike have been photographed looking pally at several public engagements, with the ex-England rugby player going along to support the royal at polo matches in the past.
It's clear the pair are on such good terms that Mike felt comfortable enough to poke fun at the future King in a recent podcast, saying he calls the heir to the throne'One Pint Willy' because 'he is not the best of drinkers'.
Both have also been with their wives for almost 20 years - Tindall was 25 when he and Zara were introduced at the 2003 World Cup. William and Kate met at university.
Zara in particular also holds a close bond with her cousins Eugenie and Beatrice, who she often hugs and pecks at high-profile royal events
Pictured: Zara, Eugenie and Kate Middleton pictured chatting together at the Royal Ascot in 2019
Kate, Zara and her daughter Mia share a warm moment in 2015,as they attend the Gigaset Charity Polo Match at the Beaufort Polo Club
Pictured: Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn arrive to hold a vigil in honour of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Hall on September 17, 2022
It appears as though Zara and Kate both get along nicely too, with there being many photos of the couples hanging out as a quad and the two mothers captured giggling away together or deep in conversation at events.
One touching moment between the duo was at the 2012 Olympics, when Kate was spotted waving enthusiastically at Zara, who won a Silver medal as part of the eventing team.
Zara in particular also holds a close bond with her cousins Eugenie and Beatrice, who she often hugs and pecks at high-profile royal events.
Social media shy Beatrice made a rare post on X in 2022, to show her support for Mike's I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! stint, dubbing her cousin's husband 'the greatest'.
Mike has also had his fair share of fun with the Royal Family relatives - that same year he poked fun at his wife and Eugenie's colourful gowns in a humorous Instagram post comparing them to Starburst wrappers.
Zara is also known to have a sweet relationship with King Charles III.
Last month, the monarchwas embraced by his nieceas he made a surprise appearance at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.Zara beamed as she greeted her uncle at the Berkshire event, clearly relieved at the positive sign that he's doing well with treatment.
Zara is also known to have a sweet relationship with King Charles III. Pictured with her uncle and Queen Camilla last year
2019: Charles and Zara wrap an affectionate arm around one another as they chat to Queen Camilla, then duch*ess of Cornwall, at Royal Ascot
2015: Charles and Zara look like they're having typical fun in each other's company at the Gigaset Charity Polo match in Tetbury
Meanwhile Charles himself looked delighted to see Zara, the daughter of his sister Princess Anne, as the two enveloped one another in a big friendly hug without any restraint.
The King and Zara have been close for decades, frequently putting on affectionate displays together at public events such as Royal Ascot.
Body language expert Judi James previously described the bond between the uncle and niece as one of the 'sweetest and most uncomplicated' in the Firm, according to the Daily Express.
She said: 'Unlike many of the people in the King's life, Zara seems to treat her uncle with unfiltered fondness and he seems to respond in kind.
'Their public displays of affection (PDAs) are legendary and the body language signals suggest they are always led by Zara, who seems untroubled by protocol, status or even Charles's customary avoidance of any touch rituals in public that go beyond a handshake.
'She seems purely keen to show everyone how determined she is to give this sometimes solitary and reflective man a hug.'
The two clearly get on like a house on fire andshare a known passion for horses and equestrian sports, as Zara even won a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics.
Her brother Peter has also frequently praised the King during his recent diagnosis with cancer, previously revealing that the monarch was feeling 'frustrated' at the time it was taking him to recover.
His words demonstrated just how close the whole family is as they have rallied to support the cancer-stricken Charles in recent months.
The siblings' tight connection with the King is no surprise given Charles's close relationship with his sister, Zara's mother the Princess Royal.
Princess Anne is often said to be Charles's right-hand woman, and is widely regarded as the hardest working royal and one of Charles's closest confidantes in his inner circle.
Meanwhile Charles is even said to have had a hand in naming Zara before her Windsor Castle christening in July 1981, as Anne once admitted: 'The baby made a rather sudden and positive arrival, and my brother thought Zara was an appropriate name. '
Though Zara and her husband Mike are not officially working royals, they still seem to be working their way towards Charles's inner circle.
They have been pictured close to senior royals at recent landmark events, such as the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, and the Tindalls were also part of Charles's coronation celebrations last year.
At more private events, they have also joined the family for the Christmas service in Sandringham in December, as well as joining them for a festive lunch.
In recent years, Mike has also reflected on how close the family has gotten since the late Queen's passing in 2022.
Hehas spoken of how the Royal Family 'came together overnight' following the death of Elizabeth II.
The ex-England rugby acealso revealed he is 'full of regret' for not asking the Queen more questions during his time with her in a special episode of his podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby.
He said:'It's been sad, emotional but happy. In some ways amazing. To see the family come so close together overnight.
'You never predict it. A 96-year-old lady, you know it's going to happen but you're never ready for when it does.
'Watching what Zara had to go through, obviously she loved the Queen beyond everything else. Their connection with horses, they had a real bond around that.
'It's like the world has lost its grandmother in some way.'
He continued: 'I also have loads of regrets about not asking her so many more things… Having nervousness when you sit there get that lucky seat of being sat next to her.
'Going back through history and everything she's possibly seen; 15 prime ministers, I don't know how many presidents.
'To go through everything when she's meeting dictators she has to stay neutral she has to perform her duty.'
Later in the podcast, he said the Royal Family had been 'blown away' by tributes from members of the public.
'You expect an outpouring of love but I think how it was, the world leaders that came in accepted their invitation without question. Immediately came back and said 'yeah we're coming',' he said, adding there was 'no jostling for positions' between the hugely important guests.
