Zara and Mike Tindall joined Prince Harry’s closest confidant Nacho Figueras and wife Delfina Blaquier at the Magic Millions equestrian festival on Australia’s Gold Coast on Jan. 13, 2026, underscoring enduring ties between the Sussexes and senior royals despite public distance.
**At a Glance
- Zara Tindall rode alongside Nacho Figueras-dubbed Harry’s “best friend”-in the beachside Barrier Draw gallop
- Mike Tindall joked he’d “always back my wife” over rivals Nacho and former rugby star Billy Slater
- Both couples serve as longtime ambassadors for the two-week racing, polo and showjumping carnival
- Why it matters: The friendly reunion signals continued private rapport between the Sussex and Tindall camps
Beachside Reunion
Cameras captured Zara, 44, Mike, 47, Nacho, 48, and Delfina, 45, mingling at Kurrawa Surf Club for the TAB Magic Millions Barrier Draw, an annual sprint down the sand that kicks off the festival’s marquee events. The foursome, repeat ambassadors for the carnival, swapped jokes while saddling up for the exhibition ride.
Zara, Princess Anne’s Olympic-medal-winning daughter, and Argentinian polo star Nacho-often called the “David Beckham of polo”-galloped side-by-side in the draw, trading competitive smiles. Retired England rugby captain Mike, standing on the sidelines, later told reporters he refused to favor any rider except his wife.
“I’ll always back my wife because it hurts less if I do, so…” he quipped, adding that while broadcaster Billy Slater and Nacho both “want to win it once,” sticking with Zara is “safest.”
Friendly Rivalry
The lighthearted banter underscored an easy rapport between the couples. Photographers caught Zara brushing Mike’s face in a tender moment, and another shot showed Delfina in animated conversation with the former rugby star. The Daily Mail reported that on the previous Saturday the foursome were seen in “deep conversation” throughout the grounds.
Such warmth is typical for the Magic Millions, which has drawn the Tindalls, Nacho and Delfina together multiple times over the years. All four hold ambassadorial roles for the festival, mixing horse racing, high-goal polo, showjumping and lucrative yearling sales in a beachside carnival format.
Sussex Connections
Beyond sport, the gathering highlighted Nacho’s enduring status as Prince Harry’s “best friend.” The polo professional and the Duke of Sussex played on rival teams last month at the St. Regis World Snow Polo Championship in Aspen, Colorado, an appearance Harry’s spokesperson said was arranged when “standing in for a friend.”
“He was there to play polo with his best friend Nacho,” a Page Six source noted. “No titles, just fun.”
Nacho and Delfina also appeared in the Sussexes’ 2024 Netflix docuseries Polo, and Delfina featured in season 1 of Meghan Markle’s lifestyle show With Love, Meghan, baking focaccia and hiking with the Duchess. Their presence alongside Zara and Mike illustrates that, whatever public distance exists between California-based Harry and the working royals, private networks remain intact.
Family Ties
Zara and Mike, married since 2011, share children Mia, 11, Lena, 7, and Lucas, 4, and are known for relaxed public affection-a trait shared by Harry and Meghan. The Tindalls’ continued friendship with the Figueras couple suggests lines of communication persist across continents, even if official royal engagements no longer intersect.
As the two-week Magic Millions festival continues, spectators can expect more crossover between the royal and polo-social sets, with ambassadors’ duties keeping Zara, Mike, Nacho and Delfina in close quarters through sales, races and showjumping finales.
Key Takeaways
- Zara Tindall competed alongside Prince Harry’s closest confidant Nacho Figueras, signaling ongoing personal ties
- Mike Tindall’s humorous loyalty to his wife highlighted the couples’ friendly dynamic
- The reunion took place within the Magic Millions ambassador circle both families have long supported
