Mike Tindall’s Blunt “No Comment” When Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor Was Brought Up

Former England rugby star Mike Tindall, married to Zara Tindall (the daughter of Princess Anne), recently found himself in an awkward spotlight in a new interview with The Times, when questions about his uncle-in-law Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor surfaced. According to reports, his podcast co-host James Haskell admitted he frequently teases Tindall about Andrew — “it’s never the wrong moment” for a joke, Haskell said. When pressed, Tindall reportedly replied simply: “No comment!” (Source: HELLO!, “Mike Tindall put on the spot by awkward Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor joke”) HELLO!+2GB News+2

Background: The Podcast and The Book

Tindall co-hosts the popular podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby alongside James Haskell and Alex Payne, which has gained a cult following for its candid approach to rugby culture and broader life topics. Their joint book, based on the podcast, also explores candid behind-the-scenes moments. In it, Tindall acknowledged Haskell’s willingness to “pick up on something that I say. And then, if you look at the cesspool of Instagram, I get dragged into it.” Entertainment Daily+1

Why It Matters: The Royal Context

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor (formerly known as Prince Andrew) has dominated headlines recently after he was stripped of his style, title, and honours by King Charles III, as part of the fallout from his associations with convicted sex-offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations made by the late Virginia Giuffre. The Guardian+1 Given Tindall’s familial connection (Zara’s maternal uncle is Andrew), the joke-laden probing by Haskell and the media’s interest in any royal comment placed Tindall in a delicate position.

Tindall’s Strategy: Staying Out of It

Rather than engage, Tindall adopted a minimalist approach. By offering “No comment!” when Andrew was brought up, he avoided fueling further media speculation or joining the chorus of commentary surrounding the scandal. In the interview setting, he remained composed, likely conscious of both his personal relationship and the high-stakes nature of the royal story. (Source: People magazine) People.com

The Bigger Picture: Royal Fallout & Media Pressure

The timing of the interview comes amid a broader moment of change for the British royal family. The official removal of Andrew’s titles marks one of the most significant royal disciplinary actions in recent history. AP News+1 Against this backdrop, anyone connected structurally to the family — including in-laws like Tindall — finds themselves under extra media and social-media scrutiny. Haskell’s jokes, while intended for comic effect, underline how even informal comments can carry weight when the subject is a controversial royal figure.

Where It Goes From Here

For Tindall, the best course appears to be silence and neutrality — he is married into the extended royal circle yet has built a public persona outside the “working royal” mould. The podcast and book continue to offer him a platform, but his response shows a clear boundary. For the monarchy, the incident is a reminder of how interconnections (even those in-law) between royals, sports stars and media figures become part of the wider narrative.