Mike Tindall has given a heartfelt update on his father Philip’s ongoing battle with Parkinson’s disease. The former England rugby star first learned of his dad’s diagnosis in 2003, during the Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Since then, the 47-year-old has become a passionate advocate for the Parkinson’s community, dedicating himself to fundraising, raising awareness, and supporting organizations like Cure Parkinson’s.
Over two decades later, Mike reveals that his father “is not doing great at the moment.” He spoke candidly to Hello! Magazine at his annual ISPS Handa Celebrity Golf Classic charity tournament about the relentless nature of the disease.
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“Parkinson’s is brutal and there is no let up from how it attacks the body and changes people,” Mike explained. “After more than 23 years of the disease, it has quite honestly left him a shell of what he once was. That’s why I don’t want anyone else to see a parent or loved one suffer and have their quality of life decline so massively.”
Parkinson’s disease currently has no cure, according to the NHS. However, a range of treatments exist to ease symptoms and help maintain patients’ quality of life as long as possible. These include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, medications, and in some cases, brain surgery.
Mike has shared that one of his father’s early symptoms was micrographia — small, cramped handwriting — a common sign of Parkinson’s. Being “a typical northern bloke,” Philip initially delayed seeking medical help, which postponed his diagnosis.
The primary symptoms of Parkinson’s include involuntary tremors, slow movement, and muscle rigidity. But the NHS notes the disease can cause a wide array of physical and psychological symptoms over time.
In a conversation with Charco Neurotech specialists for The Charco Blog, Mike described his father’s increasing struggles. For instance, Philip was “in and out of a wheelchair” during Mike and Zara’s wedding in 2011, after having back surgery to address spinal curvature — a complication known as camptocormia that affects posture.
Reflecting on the past, Mike expressed regret over not understanding Parkinson’s sooner. “I feel that if I’d taken more notice then, I could have helped him stay physically fit and in shape. But that’s hindsight — it’s the knowledge I have now that I didn’t have back in 2003.”