The people who benefit from royal ties, from Mike Tindall to Fergie

Mike Tindall has landed in Australia ahead of his stint on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! amid a string of lucrative deals estimated to be worth £600,000, proving that connections to royalty can really pay off.  

This week saw the husband of King Charles’ niece Zara and former rugby international, 44, announce his stint in the jungle and appear in two adverts – one for Domino’s Amazon Prime UK, which were revealed back-to-back.  

These latest deals are his most high-profile to date, thrusting the former rugby player further into the limelight, and there can be no doubt that his position as a popular member of the royal family – without the ties of official duties – is an attractive proposition. 

Speaking to FEMAIL, branding expert Nick Ede revealed that people with ties to royals ‘bring credibility of the highest order’ for the brands they associate themselves with and could potentially give business a massive boost. 

Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice’s husbands are in similar position to MIke, with close ties to royalty and the freedom to pursue their own careers, and while they were both forging their own futures independently before getting married, there’s no doubt that they’ve enjoyed a publicity boost thanks to their wives.  

Princess Eugenie’s husband Jack Brooksbank recently scored a new job in Portugal, where he is doing marketing, sales and promotion for property developer Michael Meldman’s Discovery Land Company.

Meanwhile, Princess Beatrice’s husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi is expanding his multi-million pound property company Banda Property into Australia, with a series of projects in Sydney. 

Even the mother of the Princess of Wales, Carole Middleton, has seen her business, Party Pieces, flourish thanks to her royal seal of approval, sending out 4,000 orders weekly and expanding her business to the US earlier this month. 

Here Femail reveals the career pursuits of royal relatives, and the boost you can get from ties to the monarchy.  

MIKE TINDALL

Mike Tindall sported an affable grin this morning as he rolled up at Brisbane Airport, confirming weeks of speculation over whether he would appear on ITV’s I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here.  

He is the seventh contestant to have confirmed his place on the show by arriving in the country, which he has described as a ‘special place’ because it is where he met his wife, Zara Phillips, 41.

It has been reported that King Charles’ nephew-in-law will receive a £150,000 payday for his appearance on the show. 

This is the latest in a series of high profile deals Mike has undertaken in recent weeks. 

Yesterday, he revealed he had shot a cameo in an advert for Amazon Prime  UK, which he shared on his Instagram account, days after it was revealed he had also partnered up for a campaign with Domino’s. 

In the clip, which was also shared on his The Good The Bad And The Rugby YouTube channel, he is sent by former England teammate and fellow podcaster James Haskell to an Amazon Prime customer looking to buy a scrum cap.

When he pops out of a cardboard box, the customer, played by comedian Archie Curzon, exclaims: ‘[It’s] Mike Tindall, Zara Phillips’ husband!’

Mike – who has previously admitted he ‘always worried about money’ – and his wife Zara, 41, each have a long list of brand ambassadorships with names such as Musto, Rolex, Land Rover, which are estimated to bring in more than £1 million a year, but many are tied to sport and horse riding. 

However, his latest deals are the most high-profile to date, thrusting the former rugby player further into the limelight in the weeks since the Queen’s death. 

Brand expert Nick Ede told FEMAIL the former rugby ace could be in for a ‘£600,000’ payday off the back of the Amazon advert, alongside his work with Domino’s and upcoming I’m A Celeb appearance. 

Meanwhile royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams revealed the monarch would be ‘keeping his eye’ on Mike, adding: ‘King Charles must be considering where, today, the line can be drawn… Mike and Zara were never working royals. 

‘His advertising of a brand of pizza and forthcoming sojourn in the jungle do however raise the question: Is anything off limits and should it be? Obviously they must earn but are there limits as to how?’

‘Both Mike Tindall and his wife Zara, who is 20th in line to the throne, are extremely popular. Their contributions in the field of rugby and in equestrian matters are well known. 

‘However are they royals or celebrities or, somehow, both? They are high achievers, that we know. King Charles must be considering where, today, the line can be drawn. 

JACK BROOKSBANK

Away from the spotlight, Princess Eugenie’s husband has enjoyed a flourishing career in marketing. 

It was announced earlier this month that Mr Brooksbank, 36, landed a job with property tycoon Mike Meldman, a longstanding business partner of George Clooney. 

Eugenie’s husband had previously worked for tequila brand Casamigos, which the actor helped found. It was sold to Diageo in 2017 for £550million. He is now working for Mr Meldman’s Discovery Land Company, which has been developing CostaTerra since 2019.

A source close to the couple said: ‘Jack is now working for Mike Meldman and they are splitting their time between Portugal and London,’ MailOnline reported. 

Jack is thought to be doing marketing, sales and promotion for Meldman’s Discovery Land Company in the southern country. 

Meanwhile, Eugenie, 32, is expected to continue working as a director for the London art gallery Hauser & Wirth on a hybrid basis, while the couple will continue to stay at Frogmore while they are back in the UK. 

Speaking of what Jack would be looking to earn from this new job, Nick Ede said: ‘I would think that he would earning around £150,000 per year plus bonus, but his royal connection keeps him working and brands will want to be associated with him and his wife.

‘It gives them credibility and a royal seal of approval,’ he added. 

EDO MAPELLI MOZZI

While his net worth isn’t known, Edo Mapelli Mozzi is the CEO of very popular property developing business Banda Property, which holds an impressive portfolio across London, Europe, and starting from this month, Australia. 

The Italian property, who tied the knot with Beatrice in July 2020, recently took to his Instagram to share snaps featuring the stunning interiors of the project, comprised by five ‘Sky Homes’ and two penthouses in Gold Coast, Queensland. 

The project completion date is set for 2024, but the 28 units are ‘offered for sale off-plan with prices from $5.9m AUD.’  

Banda’s aim is to design homes for affluent clients in ‘undervalued’ parts of London, getting them value for money and Masthead appears to be the company’s first offering in Australia.

The news came as Edo last year hinted that he is expanding his property development business into the Alps – months after it emerged his father-in-law Prince Andrew was being forced to sell his £17 million chalet.

Edo’s step-father was British political operative Christopher Shale, who was a close friend of previous Prime MInister David Cameron, and was also pals with Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.

When Shale died at he Glastonbury music festival in 2011, Edo’s future wife and her parents attended his funeral.  

Edo comes from money himself, being the son of Alessandro Mapelli Mozzi, who is part of Italy’s blue blood, and it was estimated at the time of his engagement to Beatrice in 2019 that the ring he got her cost ‘at least’ £60,000. 

‘He is worth millions due to his family and his business develops a lot for High-Net-Worth Individuals, so he will be making a large basic salary and taking significant dividends too, over £300,000 a year.

‘The royal connection makes them a super couple, and with his father being a count, they span European royalty,’ he added. 

SARAH FERGUSON

If one person has perfected the art of using their royal connections for good, it has to be Sarah Ferguson, Prince Andrew’s ex-wife. 

The Duchess of York, 63, who is a published author, has penned more than 25 books since her divorce from her ex-husband.

She recently announced that she would release a second historical romance book with Mills and Boons, titled, A Most Intriguing Lady in March next year following the success of her first novel with the publisher, Her Heart for a Compass. 

Sources close to the 62-year-old say her financial status improved after she launched a writing career that secured various book deals. 

In 2010 she told US television she was ‘continually on the verge of financial bankruptcy’ and had ‘little understanding’ of money.

She also admitted to having ‘little understanding’ of money and there were reports she had run up as much as £4.2million in debt during her marriage to Andrew.

But In 2021, it was announced she had also signed a mammoth 22-book deal with Australian publisher Serenity Press, announcing she would write adult. young adult and children’s book as part of the deal.

According to Nick, Fergie’s royal connection might be behind her success.  

‘This has always been a lucrative part of Sarah Ferguson’s brand and she can expect to earn over £200,000 per year in advance and royalties,’ the expert said. 

‘She has used her connection with the royal family for many years and has been a constant friend to Andrew,’ he added. 

But Nick also added that boisterous Fergie needs no help when it comes to making waves, and said her connection to Andrew ‘doesn’t diminish her own star power.’ 

CAROLE AND PIPPA MIDDLETON 

As mother of the future Queen, Carole Middleton’s business has also benefitted from the royal seal of approval, Nick said. 

It was reported earlier this month that Carole launched her party paraphernalia business, Party Pieces, in the US and used a cardboard cut-out of herself to promote the move.

Party Pieces was founded by Kate Middleton’s mother in 1987 when she was looking for inspiration for her daughter’s fifth birthday party.

She realised there was a gap in the market and set up the company that offers time-pressed parents an easy choice of imaginative parties for their children.

The brand’s best-selling Party Pieces Collection features products such as plates, napkins, cups, hats, balloons, treat stands and decorations.

The firm is based at Child’s Court Farm in Yattendon, Berkshire. It employs 40 people and sends out 4,000 orders a week.

All three of her children have worked for it at some point – Kate helped develop the first birthday and baby category.

Carole previously said how in the beginning they had to do ‘everything ourselves’ and the children would sometimes help with tasks such as taking orders and filling boxes.

Now the Party Pieces Collection is being sold for the first time in the United States.

Carole, 67, visited several stores to see her products, which were featured alongside cardboard posters of herself.

‘This expansion will net Carol close to six figures with her savvy approach to business and if it takes off online and in store, it could be a huge earner as she will have received an up front payment and then commission on sales, etc,’ Nick said.

‘The US market know that having the mother of the future Queen of England as the next Martha Stewart is both exciting and taps into their love of all things British. 

‘The association is money can’t buy. It brings credibility of the highest order that if it’s good enough for a princess, then it’s good enough for everyone,’ the expert said. 

Meanwhile, Pippa Middleton, who made headlines at her sister’s wedding in 2011, has also benefitted from a royal boost in her career, although she seldom need it, Nick said. 

Pippa, who is married to James Matthews, has been a darling of the society pages since her first foray into the royal limelight, and this has helped her in her business endeavour. 

In 2012, a year after the Prince and Princess of Wales’ nuptials, she published her hosting guide Celebrate: A year of British festivities for families and friends.  

‘Pippa is less busy on a business side so I would expect she would have had an advance of around £60,000 and then royalties on her book post that,’ Nick suggested. 

‘As the sister of the future Queen and a huge hit from the royal wedding, she knows that she has the ability to earn more, but her husband is part of the millionaire Matthews family, so she doesn’t need to work as hard,’ he added. 

LADY AMELIA WINDSOR AND THE SPENCER SISTERS 

While the spouses closest to the top of the line of succession have ripen the fruit of their royal marriages, the association comes in handy for more fringe members as well. 

Lady Amelia Windsor, the granddaughter of the Duke of Kent, and Lady Kitty Spencer and her sisters, twins Eliza and Amelia, the nieces of Princess Diana, have been the darlings of the fashion world for years now. 

Lady Kitty Spencers’s extravagant wedding to financial tycoon Michael Lewis, 63, was a walking advert for Dolce and Gabbana, of which she is a brand ambassador and which provided her with countless drop-dead-gorgeous outfits for her nuptials. 

The stylish affair, which took over a whole Italian city in July 2021, was branded the society wedding of the year.

Her little sisters Amelia and Eliza have been the toast of London since they relocated to the Big Smoke earlier this year, and have been touring the world’s fashion week, collecting invites to the designers of the moment as well as legit fashion names, including Tom Ford and Michael Kors.  

Meanwhile, Amelia Windsor, 26, is a Tatler favourite with serious fashion credentials, having worked for BVLGARI, Chanel and D&G.   

While these beauties might owe their modelling success to their good looks, they would have benefitted from their blue blood as well Nick said. 

‘These girls can earn hundreds of thousands depending on the brand and they are in demand all over the world – they have the Spencer name, which does hold,’ the expert said. 

‘Models with blue blood add an air of mystery and high society, which brands and consumers love,’ he added.