Zara and Mike Tindall appear to ‘snub’ Harry and Meghan during US trip (Image: Getty)
Zara Tindall embraced her inner cowgirl as she enjoyed a low-key night out with friends during a trip to the US with her husband, Mike Tindall. Notably absent from the group were Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, who live a few hours’ drive away in Montecito.
The lack of any crossover has led some royal watchers to suggest the couple may have quietly snubbed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, although no meeting has been confirmed. The King’s niece, 44, appeared relaxed and carefree as she was spotted wearing a white T-shirt and country style hat, while posing with friends on a bucking bull.
The laid-back outing offered a rare glimpse of Zara off duty and away from work commitments.
The sighting comes amid a busy start to the year for Zara and Mike, 47, who kicked off January in Australia for the Magic Millions racing festival, where Princess Anne’s daughter has served as an ambassador for more than a decade.
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John Osbourne uploaded this snap to Instagram and shared the quote “Grab life by the plums| (Image: Instagram – @jinglejohnosbourne)
The annual event has long been a fixture in their calendar and regularly sees the pair combining official duties with social engagements.
Following their time Down Under, the couple are understood to have travelled on to the United States, where Mike, a keen NFL fan – was spotted attending the Super Bowl. The game, held at Levi’s Stadium, saw the Seattle Seahawks defeat the New England Patriots and attracted a global television audience of around 125 million viewers.
The event also featured a high-profile half-time performance by Bad Bunny, who performed almost entirely in Spanish following a decade of record-breaking achievements.
Despite the scale of the occasion, Mike’s attendance appeared to fly largely under the radar. He later shared a brief glimpse from the stands on his Instagram Story, showing himself and a friend wearing novelty American football hats while seated among other fans.
Prince Harry and Meghan was snapped at the Toronto Blue Jays v Los Angeles Dodgers back in October (Image: Getty)
While Zara was not pictured in the clip and is thought to have been behind the camera, this reinforces the impression that the couple kept a deliberately low profile during the trip.
Details of their Stateside getaway only became public when country singer John Osborne, one-half of the duo Brothers Osborne, shared a group photo on social media.
The image showed Zara and Mike posing on a bucking bull alongside friends, including former England rugby player Lewis Moody, his wife Annie, and Osborne’s wife, singer-songwriter Lucie Silvas.
Dressed in denim, boots and western-style hats, the group appeared mid-laugh, arms raised, capturing a lively and informal moment.
Zara and Mike Tindall spent time last month in Oz at Magic Millions (Image: Getty)
While Zara and Mike were in California, there was no indication of a visit to Prince Harry, 41 and Meghan, 44, whose Montecito home is approximately a couple of hours from the stadium.
The Express has contacted Zara and Mike Tindall’s representatives for comment.
The lack of any shared sightings or references has stood out to royal watchers, particularly given Prince Harry’s previously close relationship with Princess Eugenie, who has visited him in the US.
Princess Eugenie travelled to the US in 2022 to visit Harry and Meghan, becoming the first member of the Firm to see them in California following their move in 2020. During the trip, she spent time with the couple and attended the Super Bowl.
Prince Harry jetted to the UK last month and appeared in court to give evidence (Image: Getty)
The timing of the sighting comes shortly after Prince Harry’s recent trip to the UK in connection with his ongoing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited, which is being brought alongside a number of other high-profile claimants including Liz Hurley and Sir Elton John.
Prince Harry appeared in court to give evidence during the proceedings, accusing the publisher of unlawful information gathering and other alleged practices linked to the case.
The legal battle has once again placed the royal family firmly in the public spotlight and forms part of a wider wave of claims brought by public figures challenging the conduct of sections of the press.
