Mike Tindall has made his first Instagram post as he prepares to leave the UK with his wife, Zara Tindall.
Zara and Mike are set to jet off to Australia’s Gold Coast in early January for the prestigious Magic Millions event, following their festive celebrations with the Royal Family.
The couple spent Christmas Day at Sandringham with King Charles, Prince William and Princess Kate.
They were joined by their two eldest children, Mia, 10, and Lena, six, for the royal gathering.
Mike Tindall makes first Instagram post as he prepares to leave the UK with Zara
Getty
The upcoming trip to Australia will see the couple leave their children behind as school resumes in January.
The pair will participate in the 10-day equestrian carnival on the Gold Coast, which features polo, showjumping and beach racing events.
Magic Millions has been a regular fixture in Zara’s calendar since 2012 when she became the face of the event following her Olympic silver medal win.
Magic Millions and Mike Tindall took to Instagram on December 29 to jointly announce the couple’s imminent arrival.
“We can’t wait to welcome our favourite UK couple back to the Gold Coast in a few days!” they wrote.
The event revealed Zara will take to the polo field for team The Star Gold Coast.
Mike will provide “insightful and humorous commentary from the sidelines,” according to the announcement.
The event combines several equestrian disciplines, with Zara participating in polo, showjumping and a beach race along Surfers Paradise.
Zara Tindall holding her daughter Lena’s hand beside Peter and Isla Phillips
PA
“Galloping down the beach, on the Gold Coast, is fairly unique,” Zara told the Australian Financial Review Magazine.
The event has evolved significantly since its beginnings as a yearling auction and race day.
While their children remain in the UK for school, the Tindalls are looking forward to their Australian getaway.
“We love the lifestyle and the weather obviously is incredible,” Zara told the outlet. “It’s just very relaxed. We’ve got a lot of friends out there,” she added.
The Olympic medallist highlighted her long-standing connection to the event: “I’ve also been very lucky to be involved in Magic Millions for more than 10 years, which is another reason to go back.”
Mike Tindall and Zara Tindall enjoyed Christmas with the Royal Family
Reuters
Zara serves as patron of both the Retraining of Racehorses charity and the Magic Millions Racing Women initiative.
“I have a big passion for racing, and being involved and getting more women involved in the racing industry was a great initiative for me to get behind,” she explained.
The Magic Millions Racing Women initiative has seen remarkable success since its inception.
More than 2000 thoroughbreds have been registered as all-female owned or leased under the programme.
Zara praised the initiative’s impact on women in racing: “It’s an amazing success story, an initiative which has brought a light to women in racing, but also ownership in racing.”
