Mike Tindall announces death of father Phil at age 79 following long Parkinson's battle

Mike Tindall announced his father’s passing following a long battle with Parkinson's disease at age 79 last week.

Tindall, who is a former England Rugby star and the husband of Princess Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall, confirmed the death while appearing in the latest episode of the podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby.

Phil was known as an avid rugby player and led Otley Rugby Club, a team in West Yorkshire.

“Big shout-out to Otley Rugby Club,” Tindall said.

“They played Chester on the weekend, and they did a minute’s silence to my dad, who was captain in ‘72, ‘73,” added Tindall.

Sharing further details, Tindall said the club had sent a video of the tribute and a message honouring his father which was also included in the match programme.

“That little moment, I got to watch it,” Tindall described.

“Thank you very much to Otley Rugby Club for it.”

Tindall earned 75 caps for England between 2000 and 2011.

Phil was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2003.

Tindall had earlier described the disease as “brutal”, saying that “there is no let-up from how it attacks the body and changes people.”

He said that the long battle with Parkinson's had reduced his father to “a shell of what he once was” and he required a wheelchair at times, as the disorder had affected his spine.