Mike Tindall, former England rugby captain, aired his vexation at the obstructed view from his seat at King Charles III's coronation at Westminster Abbey on May 6.
On his podcast "The Good, The Bad, and the Rugby," Tindall recalled his experience at the ceremony. Seated in the fourth row alongside his wife, Zara Tindall, he had a seemingly enviable spot. The first three rows were occupied by working royal family members, including Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Princess Anne.
However, despite his prominent seating position, Tindall found his view of the event blocked. The course of the ceremony, out of his sightline, was largely viewed through the TV screens installed within the abbey. The 44-year-old rugby veteran humorously lamented, "You're in the hottest spot, but it was all happening just around the corner of a wall that you can't see! You do have a front-row seat."
Further describing his experience, Tindall said, "It was unbelievable to be sat where we were. Quite frustrating that you couldn't see around the corner, but you had the TV there." He also fondly recalled the military parade in the Buckingham Palace backyard as a standout moment. The sight of thousands of military footmen cheering for the new king caused him "goose pimples."
During the coronation, Tindall's mother-in-law, Princess Anne, had the distinguished role of "Gold-Stick-in-Waiting." In this capacity, she rode on horseback behind the newly enthroned King and Queen, leading the 6,000 armed services personnel to Buckingham Palace.
The Princess, commenting on her role during a CBC News interview, explained, "And Gold Stick was the original close protection officer. So that is a role I was asked if I'd like to do for this coronation, so I said yes," adding humorously, "Not least of all, it solves my dress problem."
Tindall encountered a slightly different problem during the following day's Coronation Concert held at Windsor Castle. He confessed an eagerness to dance during performances by musicians such as Katy Perry and Lionel Richie, but found his movement restricted by the raised platform.
Tindall told "Good Morning Britain," "If you started doing interesting dance maneuvers on that platform next to the king, I'm not entirely sure it would have gone down that well!" He humorously referred to Will Smith's movie Hitch, advising to stay within one's "safe zone."
Despite the day's constraints, Tindall, along with his wife, enjoyed a late-night date on May 5, leading up to King Charles III's coronation. Reflecting on the evening, he appreciated the opportunity to "have a little bit of a time" where they "could go out and have a drink and have a chat."
