Mike and Zara Tindall have made no efforts to hide the love affair they have with Australia, returning for holidays with their three children yearly, and even hinting at making a permanent move down under one day.
Annually in January, the family of five makes the pilgrimage from the UK to the Gold Coast to attend the Magic Millions – of which Zara has been an ambassador since 2012 -, an Australian thoroughbred racehorse auction house that hosts several star-studded events throughout the year.
Featuring the very best of the Australasian yearling crop, the world-class event attracts horse racers from across the globe as they bid and sell the next generation of racehorse talent.
WATCH NOW: Zara Tindall wins a silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. Article continues after video.
The event culminates in a major race meeting where all contenders are horses that have previously been purchased at Magic Millions auctions.
RELATED || Inside Mike and Zara Tindall’s larger-than-life love story
It is believed that the royal has netted $1.5 million from Magic Millions since she became an ambassador.
After a two-year delay due to the pandemic, the Tindalls returned to Australia for the 2022 event, Mike revealing to his fellow attendees that it was “lovely” to be in his home away from home once more.
“It’s lovely to have a break from the bleak January in the UK,” the podcast host said at the time.
“It’s nice to come back down and see all our friends again. We love the ambassadors and we love getting together,” he added.
His wife of 12 years shared these sentiments, revealing that returning to the Gold Coast and attending the Magic Millions event was like “coming back home.”
“It really is like a family and it’s been hard not being here for two years,” the 21st in line to the Britsh throne said.
After returning home from their 2023 trip, Mike shed light on whether or not he, Zara, and their darling children would ever make a permanent move to the Sunshine State, telling Hello! at the Legends of Rugby Awards that he “would never say never” to living abroad.
“It’s not on the cards, people try to say we almost did but we never almost did. It’s never been an actual thing where we’ve looked for a house or anything.”
“We love Australia a lot and we love the lifestyle. I think it’s brilliant for kids but whether we could actually move there, we’re not sure.”
Speaking exclusively with New Idea, an onlooker who spotted the husband and wife duo splashing around in the waters of Byron Bay during the trip said that “they looked as if they were having the best time – and they could hardly keep their hands off one another!”
This isn’t the first time that a member of the Tindall clan has spoken publically about a potential move to Australia, Zara telling our sister publication the Australian Women’s Weekly in 2019 that it was “on the cards” one day.
“If an opportunity came up we’d definitely think about it,” she said, her husband chiming in that the country was a “great place” that they always enjoyed visiting.
In the same interview Mike added that if they weren’t tied to the UK, they’d “love living” in Australia.
“Living there isn’t realistic because it’s so far away from our families but we do love it. We’ve got a great friendship group in Australia and Zara has one in New Zealand as well. We just love that part of the world and love the pace of life,” he said at the time.
“I love the lifestyle of Australia and the ability to get up so early, [and] go to the beach – especially for the kids, taking them in the ocean is brilliant.”
More recently, after returning from their annual summer trip in January 2024, Zara shared with HELLO! that Queensland especially felt like a “second home” for the couple.
“Mike and I both love the vibes and personality of Australia. It really suits us with the outdoor lifestyle and everything that comes with it. What is not to love about being here?” she shared with the publication.
“We have always had a love for Australia and look forward to coming here. It is a second home to us but [we] wouldn’t move here as it’s too far from family, but we continue to get down as much as we can and enjoy it while we are here.”
Given the couple share so many happy memories down under together (including meeting for the first time in a Manly bar in 2003), we wouldn’t be surprised if their visits are more frequent and prolonged.
But for now, the couple currently reside on Princess Anne’s estate, Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire.
