Inside King Charles and Zara Tindall's sweet relationship: Monarch and his niece share a close bond and aren't

King Charles was embraced by his niece Zara Tindall today as he made a surprise appearance at the Royal Windsor Horse Show. 

It marks the third public engagement by the 73-year-old monarch in four days as he returns to public-facing duties amid his treatment for cancer. 

Zara, 42, beamed as she greeted her uncle at the Berkshire event, clearly relieved at the positive sign that he's recovering from his illness. 

Meanwhile Charles himself looked delighted to see Zara, the daughter of his sister Princess Anne, as the two enveloped one another in a big friendly hug without any restraint. 

The King and Zara have been close for decades, frequently putting on affectionate displays together at public events such as Royal Ascot. 

King Charles was embraced by his niece Zara Tindall today as he made a surprise appearance at the Royal Windsor Horse Show

Their physical affection is a sign of their close bond - and Zara is known for breaking royal tradition with her tactile displays, as also shown with her rugby star husband Mike. 

Over the years, Charles and Zara have frequently been spotted sharing embraces, hugs and laughing heartily together.  

At Royal Ascot in June 2023 the pair shared a warm embrace on opening day, while at the same event in 2019, Zara threw a friendly arm around her uncle.

Body language expert Judi James previously described the bond between the uncle and niece as one of the 'sweetest and most uncomplicated' in the Firm, according to the Daily Express. 

She said: 'Unlike many of the people in the King's life, Zara seems to treat her uncle with unfiltered fondness and he seems to respond in kind.

'Their public displays of affection (PDAs) are legendary and the body language signals suggest they are always led by Zara, who seems untroubled by protocol, status or even Charles's customary avoidance of any touch rituals in public that go beyond a handshake.

'She seems purely keen to show everyone how determined she is to give this sometimes solitary and reflective man a hug.'

The two clearly get on like a house on fire and share a known passion for horses and equestrian sports, as Zara even won a silver medal at the London 2012 Olympics.  

TODAY: Charles looked delighted to see Zara, the daughter of his sister Princess Anne, as the two enveloped one another in a big friendly hug without any restraint

2023: King Charles and his niece Zara Tindall share an embrace on the opening day of Royal Ascot in Berkshire

2023: Zara, King Charles and Queen Camilla share a laugh on the balcony at Ascot

Her brother Peter has frequently praised the King during his recent diagnosis with cancer, previously revealing that the monarch was feeling 'frustrated' at the time it was taking him to recover. 

His words demonstrated just how close the whole family is as they have rallied to support the cancer-stricken Charles in recent months.   

The siblings' tight connection with the King is no surprise given Charles's close relationship with his sister, Zara's mother the Princess Royal. 

Princess Anne is often said to be Charles's right-hand woman, and is widely regarded as the hardest working royal and one of Charles's closest confidantes in his inner circle. 

Meanwhile Charles is even said to have had a hand in naming Zara before her Windsor Castle christening in July 1981, as Anne once admitted: 'The baby made a rather sudden and positive arrival, and my brother thought Zara was an appropriate name. '

Though Zara and her husband Mike are not officially working royals, they still seem to be working their way towards Charles's inner circle. 

They have been pictured close to senior royals at recent landmark events, such as the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, and the Tindalls were also part of Charles's coronation celebrations last year. 

At more private events, they have also joined the family for the Christmas service in Sandringham in December, as well as joining them for a festive lunch. 

2022: Another embrace. Body language expert Judi James previously described the bond between the uncle and niece as one of the 'sweetest and most uncomplicated' in the Firm, according to the Daily Express

2019: Zara looked stunning in a floral dress as she once again showed her close bond with Uncle Charles

2019: The two clearly get on like a house on fire and have bonded over their shared love of horses

2019: Charles and Zara wrap an affectionate arm around one another as they chat to Queen Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall, at Royal Ascot

2015: Charles and Zara look like they're having typical fun in each other's company at the Gigaset Charity Polo match in Tetbury

However, many have been looking towards Zara and her rugby star husband Mike to step up to the plate since Charles and Kate took time off work for their respective cancer diagnoses. 

Charles's biographer revealed previously that the displays of affection between the two are proof of the strong bond that they share. 

Robert Jobson told The Sun in 2019: 'Zara is blood family. He has known her since she was a baby.

'Charles is closest to his sister Anne of all his siblings and has always been very supportive and affectionate towards his niece.'

Zara spent much of her childhood with her cousins William and Harry, Prince Charles's sons, who are only two and four years younger than she is. 

This also gave the opportunity for her to form a close bond with her Uncle Charles - and this has clearly remained throughout the years. 

During childhood visits to Highgrove, the family residence of the Prince of Wales in Tetbury, Zara would cause 'chaos' while playing with her younger cousin William.

Though he has moved to the US, Prince Harry is godfather to Zara and Mike's youngest daughter Lena and the cousins all have children of similar ages. 

2008: Zara and her uncle, then Prince of Wales, give another example of their decades-long friendship

Despite not being working royals, Zara and her husband Mike are close with the King and joined the royals for the Christmas Day service at Sandringham

The Tindalls (pictured in the fourth row) were also part of Charles's coronation celebrations last year

Zara and Mike Tindall leave after the State Funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on September 19, 2022

Mike and Zara Tindall arriving ahead of the coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey

King Charles's appearance and cheerful demeanour at events this week indicates the positive progress he is making after almost three months of cancer care as an outpatient.

Charles's diary of forthcoming events will not be a full summer programme, and attendance will be announced nearer the time and 'subject to doctors' advice', with 'adaptations made where necessary to minimise risk' to the King's recovery.

It is understood the warmer weather would allow events to be staged outside and lessen the risk posed by other people that many cancer patients face.

At the hospital on Tuesday, the King spoke of his 'shock' at being diagnosed with cancer as he met fellow patients on his return to public-facing duties.

Charles candidly described the experience of being told he had the disease, as he learned about the latest treatments and chat to staff providing the pioneering care.

He also reassured those who asked about the state of his health, saying: 'I'm well.'

The King, who looked relaxed and in good spirits, was joined on the visit by Camilla, and went on impromptu walkabouts, meeting staff who had stopped to catch a glimpse of the royal couple.

The visit was marked by Charles being named as the new patron of Cancer Research UK, which will sit alongside his patronage of Macmillan Cancer Support.

The King's close relationship with Zara is no surprise, considering her mother Anne is often seen as his right-hand woman

Anne, Princess Royal and Zara Tindall greet the public outside Balmoral Castle on September 10, 2022, in Aberdeen

Then on Wednesday, Charles held his second public-facing event since his diagnosis to view the Coronation Roll, which is the official record of his crowning.

He told those who created the historic document that 'you deserve a very stiff drink'. Charles viewed the roll with Camilla, and marvelled at the handwritten and lavishly decorated artefact.

At the end of the presentation the King and Queen were shown Queen Elizabeth II's coronation roll and those created for the crowing of Queen Victoria, William, Mary and Edward II.

Also this week, Lionel Richie revealed that his friend Charles is 'doing fantastic' during his treatment.

The 74-year-old singer, who has been friends with the King since the 1980s after meeting through what was the Prince's Trust, also described Charles as 'doing well'.

Speaking at the inaugural King's Trust Global Gala in New York last night, Richie told People: 'Happily I can say, he is doing fantastic. Again, I understand, he needs to sit still, you know what I'm saying. The most important part is he is doing well.

'He's back to his duties and so therefore, I wouldn't want the first thing for him to do is come over - let's not prove anything here.'

Richie also joked that he was expecting a phone call from the King after the event at Cipriani South Street, saying: 'Believe me, my question [from Charles] now is, 'How was it?' After I finish tonight, I'm gonna get that call saying, 'Well, how was it?'.' 

The singer has met Charles at various charity events over the decades, and spoke about their friendship ahead of his performance in the Coronation Concert last May.