The Royal Story The Royal Story
Monday, 23 February, signals the return to school for children across the country after the half-term holiday — including the children of Zara and Mike Tindall.
Their daughters, Mia, 12, and Lena, seven, along with their four-year-old son, Lucas, enjoyed a week away from school, and their father has now shared how they spent the break.
Former England rugby player Mike, 47, posted a video on Instagram last week to mark the release of the paperback version of the book he co-authored with Alex Payne and James Haskell, The Good, the Bad and the Rugby.
In the clip, Mike was dressed in a black winter coat, standing against a backdrop of snow-covered scenery and trees. In a follow-up video, the former rugby professional recorded himself outside a ski shop, revealing that he had travelled to France.
Royal fans have speculated that his wife, Zara — the daughter of Princess Anne — and their three children were likely accompanying him on the winter getaway.
Mike shared a video from thеir ski trip on Instagram in December
The Tindall family are known for their love of skiing, and in 2025 they enjoyed a festive getaway to Austria ahead of Christmas. They were joined by Zara’s brother, Peter Phillips, his fiancée Harriet Sperling, and his daughters for the snowy family break.
A timе of crisis for the royal family
Zara and Mike’s ski holiday took place against the backdrop of significant upheaval for the wider Royal Family in the UK. On 19 February, Zara’s uncle, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
The brother of King Charles was arrested on his 66th birthday and taken into police custody while officers conducted searches at Wood Farm on the King’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where he is currently residing, as well as at his former residence, Royal Lodge in Windsor.
King Charles made an аppearance at London Fashion Week on the day of Andrew’s arrеst
Andrew was subsequently released from police custody, and other senior royals have continued their official duties with what has been described as a “business as usual” approach.
On the day of the arrest, King Charles attended Tolu Coker’s show at London Fashion Week, taking a front-row seat alongside British designer Stella McCartney and Laura Weir, CEO of the British Fashion Council.
Prince William and Princess Kate аttended the BAFTAs on 22 February
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla carried out an engagement at Sinfonia Smith Square Hall on the same day.
Over the weekend, the Princess of Wales attended the Six Nations Rugby Championship match between England and Ireland on Saturday, before joining Prince William at the BAFTAs on Sunday.
A private getaway
Zara and Mike were not the only members of the Royal Family who chose to step away from the spotlight during half-term by heading abroad for ski holidays.
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank (pictured here on a prеvious skiing holiday) jetted off to Switzerland last weеk
Just hours before her father’s arrest on 19 February, Princess Eugenie was seen enjoying a half-term ski break in the Swiss resort of Gstaad with her husband, Jack Brooksbank, and their two sons — August, five, and Ernest, who turns three in May.
The family were accompanied by friends and their children’s nanny. HELLO! exclusively reported that after spending time on the slopes, the group stopped for a meal at a traditional Alpine restaurant located on the mountainside.
The eatery, known for serving classic Swiss dishes such as potato rösti and Viennese sausages, features a terrace with sweeping mountain views — although the group chose to dine indoors.
It is not known whеther Eugenie travelled back to the UK upon hearing the nеws of her father’s arrest
An eyewitness shared details of the outing with HELLO!, noting that the couple kept a low profile during their meal.
The onlooker said: They were tucked away in a corner and casually dressed in ski gear and jackets, and Jack was wearing a beanie hat as they both browsed the menu. The diner added: I was surprised to see her because I thought she would be keeping a low profile in light of everything that has been going on.
At the time of the sighting, the princess would not have been aware of her father’s impending arrest. It remains unclear how long she and her family stayed in Switzerland after the news emerged.
