'She was being a bit naughty': Mike Tindall opens up about the show-stealing moment his daughter Mia grabbed the Queen's handbag in her 90th birthday portrait

She stole the show when she was pictured clutching one of the Queen's famous black Launer handbags as the monarch and the youngest royals posed for a portrait to mark her 90th birthday. 

Now Mike Tindall, 37, has revealed how the adorable moment happened 'at the right time' because his daughter Mia, two, was being 'a bit naughty'.

Opening up during an appearance on Good Morning Britain, the former rugby star who is married to the Queen's granddaughter Zara, 35, explained that her Majesty had also enjoyed the hilarious moment. 

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Toddler Mia Tindally (left) stole the show when she was pictured clutching one of the Queen's famous black Launer handbags in the monarch's 90th birthday portrait shot by Annie Liebovitz

'It just happened at the right time. She was being a bit naughty,' he explained. 'The queen got it quite right when she told her: "Just hold the handbag now". 

'And she did that. It ended up being a great photo for her.' 

Mike was appearing on GMB this morning to speak about his charity golf tournament, which is taking place today. 

He organises the event every year to raise money for the Matt Hampson Foundation and Rugby For Heroes, of which he is the patron, a charity that helps service personnel make the transition into civilian life.

He also revealed that toddler Mia is already very outgoing, something which her parents welcome. 

'She's got quite a little personality on her, and we encourage that,' he said. 

'It just turned out to be the right photo at the right time and it will be something we'll always cherish, I think.'

A royal source had previously confirmed that Mia picking up her great grandmother's £1020 handbag was completely unscripted.

Mike Tindall, 37, has revealed on Good Morning Britain how the adorable moment happened because his daughter was being a bit 'naughty'

Mike, pictured with Mia at the Badminton Horse Trials earlier this month, said the portrait is something they will always cherish 

The former rugby star appeared on the show to speak about his annual charity golf day 

Sporting a rather eye-catching pair of blue trousers patterned with diamonds and Union Jacks, Mike couldn't hide his delight as he arrived for the day of sporting action with his wife Zra

‘The moment with Mia was completely spontaneous, it was not staged at all. She just picked up her great-granny’s handbag and that was it,’ they said.

The Queen's 90th birthday portrait featured the monarch with the youngest of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and was taken by Annie Liebovitz at Windsor Castle. 

Mia was joined by her cousins Isla Phillips, three and her sister Savannah, five, daughters of Zara's brother Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn. 

Princess Charlotte perched on her great-grandmother's knee while Prince George stood alongside them. 

The pair cheered on the sidelines as they watched competitors take part in the ISPS HANDA Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic in aid of Rugby For Heroes and The Matt Hampson Foundation

Zara catches up with Ronan Keating's wife Storm Uechtritz

Zara joined her husband at the ISPS HANDA Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic, which is now in its fourth year

Zara's sister-in-law Autumn Phillips (right) was also there to support Mike's charity golf tournament 

Also in the portrait were James, Viscount Severn the eight-year-old son of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, and his sister Lady Louise, 12. 

However, it was Mia who stole the show with her adorably cheeky display. 

And many people on social media declared that she'd totally usurped Prince George as the cutest young royal.

Mike and Zara paused for a snack during the ISPS HANDA Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic in aid of Rugby For Heroes and The Matt Hampson Foundation

Zara was spotted driving around getting attendees to pose with a toy horse and former rugby player Tom Evans was happy to oblige

The Queen's granddaughter requested a picture from Vernon Kay with the cuddly toy

Vernon grinned as he posed in the golf buggy with the cuddly horse

Zara gave birth to Mia, the Queen's fourth great-grandchild, on January 17 2014.

She is 17th in line to the throne, but like her mother, she does not hold a royal or aristocratic title. As when Zara herself was born, Mia’s name was a break from tradition as it had no precedent in the royal family.

However, her father Mike revealed today that she is sharing in the family equestrian tradition by horse riding at the age of two.  

She is following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Princess Anne, and mother Zara, a dressage rider.

Zara was seen whizzing around the course at the Belfry Golf & Resort Hotel in Sutton in a buggy

Mike gave a speech to competitors at his celebrity golf tournament. Earlier today he admitted he found it difficult to adjust after retiring from professional rugby

Zara caught up with pals at the fundraiser organised by her husband 

In an interview, Mike spoke of their love of the Cotswold life and how Mia is embracing the ways of the country.

'She's very playful, always outside and she goes riding every now and again,' he said.

Perhaps her mother Zara was capturing some pictures to show her daughter as she was spotted driving around snapping photos of attendees with a toy horse at her husband's celebrity golf tournament this afternoon.  

The mother-of-one has passed on her love of horses to her daughter who is already riding at the tender age of two 

One of Mike's current projects is a charity golf tournament, which he has organised for the past four years

The joker posed in a pair of charity boxer shorts over his lurid golfing trousers

Mike also described how Mia - the great-granddaughter of the Queen - is currently going through the 'terrible twos' but blames it on frequent illness.

'I think it's that they get ill all the time,' he said. 'She goes to nursery and gets every bug going.'

Zara, Mike and Mia live on Princess Anne's Gatcombe Estate in Gloucestershire.

Zara Tindall jokes around with a friend before the ISPS HANDA Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic

A friend playfully adjusted the royal's sunglasses

The friendly pair embraced each other as they enjoyed a day out at Mike's celebrity golf tournament

Mike was also having a fun time as he balanced precariously on his knees on top of a stability ball

Mike showed off his swing as he took to the green to compete 

Mike said: 'I love it here. I like the pace that everything operates at. It has its own culture but is very friendly and is nothing like the rat race in London.'

Earlier today Mike who retired from professional rugby in 2014, also admitted that he can related to the struggle some go through when making the change.

'When you have to retire, you get depressed,' he revealed. 'You go from a life where you're told what to do every minute of the day.

'You fall out of that routine and you have to deal with it yourself.

Mia with her mother Zara Tindall and Princess Anne at the Badminton Horse Trials earlier this month 

Mia Grace Tindall with her cousin Savannah Phillips. Her father Mike says that she already has quite a strong personality 

'I know i struggled in the few months after I finally retired. This is the same with people leaving the military. They've got a skillset but they don't know what to do with that.

'We try and bridge that gap and help people get back into civilian life.' 

The ISPS HANDA Mike Tindall Celebrity Golf Classic in aid of Rugby For Heroes and The Matt Hampson Foundation kicks off today.

The youngster looked a little sleepy while being carried on her father's shoulders at the Badminton Horse Trials

Proud dad Mike Tindall opened up about his daughter Mia on today's Good Morning Britain 

And Mike was joined by his wife Zara for the event as they arrived at the Belfry Golf & Resort Hotel in Sutton.

Sporting a rather eye-catching pair of blue trousers patterned with diamonds and Union Jacks, Mike couldn't hide his delight as he arrived for the day of sporting action. 

Zara was seen catching up with Ronan Keating's wife Storm Uechtritz at the event, and joking around with a friend who playfully adjusted her sunglasses.

Mike was also having a fun time as he balanced precariously on his knees on top of a stability ball and posing in a pair of colourful charity boxer shorts over his trousers.