On Friday evening in London, Roger Federer welcomed two unexpected members of the royal family to the Laver Cup: Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall and Zara’s husband, Mike Tindall. The appearance came just days after Mike revealed his father, Phil, had passed away after a battle with Parkinson’s Disease.
The Laver Cup, held annually and co-founded by Federer, is a three-day men’s team tennis competition in which six players from Europe face six from the rest of the world. (Team Europe was triumphant this year.)
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The Tindalls and Federer in the stands.
The Tindalls are longtime tennis fans. They frequently attend Wimbledon, and Federer often appears with the extended British royal family in the Royal Box. In fact, after retirement, Federer made his return to Wimbledon alongside Kate Middleton, sitting in the Royal Box next to the Princess of Wales. He later revealed, “I know her quite well. She is an avid tennis fan, and she plays herself. Sometimes we have to be careful we don’t speak too much. You can talk, and then it’s super-quiet, and then you have to applaud.” Plus, nearly seven years ago, Federer confirmed he gave Prince George a tennis lesson at Prince William and Kate’s home in Norfolk.
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Learner Tien, Francisco Cerundolo, Mike Tindall, Zara Tindall and Casper Ruud at the Laver Cup 2026 at The O2.
For the evening, Zara wore a Veronica Beard navy blazer and matching pants and carried an Aspinal of London bag, finishing off her outfit with a pair of white sneakers. During the competition, the Tindalls also met with competitors Learner Tien, Francisco Cerundolo, and Casper Ruud backstage.
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The Tindalls at the premiere of Federer: Twelve Final Days.
No specific reason was given why the couple attended the tennis event, but they have appeared at other Federer events. In 2024, for example, they attended the premiere of Federer: Twelve Final Days, which followed the end of the Swiss tennis player’s career.
Neither Federer nor the Tindalls have spoken publicly on their friendship.
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Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.