The royal family often welcome guests to their hallowed halls, whether that be heads of state, politicians or regal visitors from overseas.
But it seems the hardest of them all to please was former English rugby union player James Haskell.
James, 39, sat down in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle in September 2023 with his fellow podcast hosts Alex Payne and Mike Tindall to interview Princess Anne as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Despite being surrounded by what was ‘one of the most lavish and costly interior decoration schemes ever carried out in England’, according to the Royal Collection Trust, James was not amused.
In a new interview with The Telegraph to promote his upcoming book, The Good, the Bad & the Rugby – Unleashed, with Mike Tindall and Alex Payne, the ex-flanker said he was particularly ‘disappointed’ with the selection of biscuits on offer at the royal residence.
Former rugby player James Haskell (pictured) revealed he was ‘disappointed’ by the biscuit selection at Windsor Castle
‘I expected big trays loaded with scones and exotic fruit tarts,’ James said. ‘Instead, I got a couple of broken rich teas and what appeared to be a half-eaten malted milk – a leftover from a box of Family Circle biscuit.
But thankfully the former Wasps player did not leave Windsor Castle hungry.
He said: ‘Luckily, I’d brought along an M&S sandwich, but when I started eating it, someone appeared and shooed me into a corridor.
‘They’d been on red alert since our MD spilt coffee on what was probably a priceless Chippendale cabinet.’
Attempting to wolf down an M&S sandwich in front of royalty was not the only protocol James broke that day.
Ahead of the podcast recording, he introduced himself to Prince William with the rather colloquial words: ‘All right Boss.’
It was an unlikely group: three boisterous rugby fanatics sitting across from three of the most senior royals. But, of course, the chat was set up by podcast host Mike, who has three children with Zara Tindall and simply asked his mother-in-law if she was free.
More than 3.6million people have tuned in to listen to the frank conversation on the Good, the Bad and the Rugby’s YouTube channel alone.
Co-hosts of the Good, the Bad and the Rugby Alex Payne, James Haskell and Mike Tindall sit in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle with Princess Anne and the Prince and Princess of Wales in September 2023
James Haskell pictured speaking to Princess Anne and the Prince of Wales during the podcast recording
James said he was impressed by the Princess Royal’s knowledge of sport. Princess Anne (pictured) is the President of the British Olympic Association and the Patron of Scotland Rugby
The official photograph taken on Harry and Meghan’s wedding day were taken in the Green Drawing Room which was ‘one of the most lavish and costly interior decoration schemes ever carried out in England’, according to the Royal Collection Trust
After their 50-minute fireside chat about all things sport, James revealed that he was left most impressed by Mike’s mother-in-law.
The Princess Royal is not only a former Olympian herself but the President of the British Olympic Association and the Patron of Scotland Rugby.
James writes in the book: ‘Princess Anne knew more about sport than almost anyone I’ve ever met.’
It is surprising that James struggled at Windsor Castle considering his own experience with being part of a famous family.
The former rugby player married Chloe Madeley, daughter of TV stars Richard and Judy, in December 2018.
The couple share a daughter called Bodhi, one.
Mike knew Chloe, having appeared together on Channel 4 series, The Jump. ‘She’s basically a female version of Hask,’ he writes, ‘which made for an interesting relationship.’
After five years of marriage, James and Chloe announced their split in October 2023.
Last Thursday Chloe appeared on Olivia Attwood’s So Wrong It’s Right podcast and opened up about the breakdown of their marriage.
The fitness guru, 37, said: ‘His schedule, I don’t even remember when he was in England for a full week. He’s all over the place and I just can’t do that. Can’t live like that.’
‘I think I knew that I was really unhappy,’ she added. ‘And I think he knew that he was really unhappy too. But I don’t think either of us ever would have predicted that we were going to break up. Ever.’
James Haskell, 39, and Chloe Madeley, 37, announced their split in October 2023 (pictured arriving to Windsor Castle for the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in 2018)
But Chloe said she remembers the exact moment where she declared she was convinced the relationship was done.
‘I swear to God it was just like one day, I remember exactly where we were – I remember the day, the time, the temperature, the outfit, everything – I just remember like just saying it, ‘I don’t think that we should do this any more’, but really meaning it and it kind of went from there.
‘It doesn’t just happen – it didn’t for us anyway. It was farmed up as time passed, and it’s still like that now.’
Chloe revealed on the podcast that although she had downloaded dating apps, she was not ready to start seeing other people yet.
The couple who had starred in their own ITV reality show Chloe Madeley: A Family Affair, announced: ‘Chloe and I mutually decided separate at the end of September, 2023.
‘We had not planned on releasing a statement at this time – certainly not while the television show was airing – but constant speculation about our marriage has, unfortunately, forced our hand.
‘Beyond this statement, we will not be speaking about this matter publicly, and we would request privacy at this time.
‘Our sole focus now is our beautiful daughter. We shall continue to co-parent with nothing but love.’
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