Mike Tindall has shared a video on his Instagram story featuring a 100-year-old World War Two veteran expressing regret about the state of modern Britain.
The clip, which was also liked by Mike, was originally published by Turning Point UK, a conservative youth organisation advocating for freedom, free markets and limited government.
Turning Point UK was launched in 2018 and is a British offshoot of the US youth organisation Turning Point USA, which the late Charlie Kirk co-founded.
Mike, who is married to Zara Tindall and is the son-in-law of Princess Anne, is not a working member of the Royal Family.
As such, he is not bound by the political neutrality conventions that apply to senior royals and is free to express or share political views on his personal social media accounts.
The video features Alec Penstone, a former Royal Navy serviceman who appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain on Friday to reflect on his memories of the war and why he continues to support the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal.
Mr Penstone volunteered during the Blitz at age 15, later serving in the Arctic convoys from the age of 17.
During the interview, co-host Kate Garraway asked Mr Penstone what Remembrance Sunday means to him.
Mike Tindall shares war hero’s blunt response to Adil Ray’s question on modern Britain
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ITV / GETTY
He replied by recalling the graves of friends he lost during the war and questioning whether the sacrifices made by his generation had resulted in the country he hoped to see.
“My message is, I can see in my mind’s eye the rows and rows of white stones of all the hundreds of my friends and everybody else that gave their lives for what?” he said.
“The country of today. No, I’m sorry, the sacrifice wasn’t worth the result that it is now.”
Mr Penstone continued: “What we fought for, and what we fought for, was our freedom. We find that even now it’s downright worse than when I fought for it.”
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Mike Tindall shared the video, originally posted by Turning Point UK
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INSTAGRAM: MIKE TINDALL
Ms Garraway acknowledged the strength of his feelings, while co-presenter Adil Ray asked him to expand on his point.
The conversation prompted a strong reaction from viewers, some of whom criticised Ray’s tone, while others defended his approach as an attempt to understand Mr Penstone’s perspective.
Turning Point UK later clipped the remarks into a short video and captioned it with Mr Penstone’s quote: “The sacrifice wasn’t worth the result it is now. What we fought for was our freedom, we find now it’s a darn sight worse than what it was when I fought for it.”
The organisation added: “100-year-old World War II Veteran Alec Penstone gives a damning verdict on modern Britain.”
Mike reshared this video to his Instagram Story on Saturday evening.
Zara’s husband, a former England rugby player who won the Rugby World Cup in 2003, has maintained an active public profile through sports commentary, charity work and media appearances.
Although he regularly attends major Royal Family events due to his close ties, he does not undertake royal duties or receive public funding and is not required to remain politically neutral.
His decision to share the video, therefore, fits within personal free expression and does not reflect the institutional position of the Royal Family.