When one thinks of tea time with royalty, silver trays, crisp linens, and delicate sandwiches come to mind. As Princess Anne's son-in-law Mike Tindall and his podcast co-hosts reveal in their new book, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby - Unleashed.

The former England rugby star, who is married to Zara Phillips, granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth and daughter of Princess Anne, got a surprising glimpse of royal life when he visited Windsor Castle last year to record a popular podcast.

Tindall was joined on the recording by “Good, Bad, Rugby” co-hosts Alex Payne and James Haskell, along with Princess Anne, Prince William, and Kate Middleton, and Haskell was particularly struck by the decidedly non-royal spread.

“I was expecting a big tray with scones and exotic fruit tarts,” the former rugby player wrote in his book (via the Telegraph). [Luckily, I had brought my M&S sandwich with me, but as I started to eat it, someone appeared and chased me out into the corridor. They had been on high alert ever since our MD spilled coffee on a Chippendale cabinet, which was probably valuable”.

Aside from the questionable tea service, Tyndall said it was not as difficult as he thought it would be to adjust to his wife's famous household. 'Believe it or not, marrying into the royal family was easy for me. They were always nice to me and I was always nice to them. It was really easy,” he writes in his book.

Mike and his wife Zara are not officially active royalty, but former royal butler Paul Burrell told “Marie Claire” that the low-key duo may be just what the royal family needs to connect with the public.

Calling the podcaster “a no nonsense, common sense man who speaks his mind,” Burrell, who served Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth for many years, says the Tyndalls are a particular favorite of the king.

“I think he was totally discreet, despite the fact that he's been on TV in his own right as a celebrity,” he said on the reality show “I'm A Celebrity. .Get Me Out Of Here,” Burrell adds of Mike's appearance on the reality show. He has never let his family down.” . unlike the tea service at Windsor Castle.”