Harry’s cousin-in-law to star in British reality TV show in another worrying development for Royals

Buckingham Palace is bracing for another PR nightmare after Prince Harry’s niece signed up to join the cast of a reality TV show, a week after disturbing details about the prince’s memoir were revealed.

Mike Tindall, a former England rugby player, is married to Harry’s cousin, Zara Phillips.

Although neither he nor his wife have royal titles – Zara’s mother, Princess Anne, King Charles’ sister, decided upon Zara’s birth to avoid the pressure and control that comes with a title, and not give her daughter one – Tindall is certainly expected to reveal some of them. secrets.

The 44-year-old father of four has promised to be “an open book” – likely to lead to sleepless nights among the Palace courtiers.

Harry himself revealed the cover and title of his memoir Spare last week, confirming it would be published in January.

Tindall flies to Australia to participate in the British reality TV show ‘I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!’

Camping in the rainforest, ten famous faces from sports, media and television compete to be crowned king or queen of the jungle.

The public votes by phone to nominate who will do a “bush tucker trial” — usually eating insects, running an obstacle course, or being trapped with animals.

Each week, based on their performance, voters choose who to eliminate and who will be the ultimate winner.

If one of the celebrities finds the experience of sleeping in the woods, in a hammock and cooking for themselves without too many modern comforts, they may scream, “I’m a celebrity, get me out of here!” – and immediately exit the show.

Past winners have included Margaret Thatcher’s daughter Carol, pop singer Kian Egan of boy band Westlife and former England football manager Harry Redknapp.

Tindall will be pitted this year against several soap actresses, TV presenters and singer Boy George, the oldest contestant at 61.

The Culture Club singer, whose 1983 song Karma Chameleon was a worldwide hit, is the highest paid participant, reportedly earning $575,000.

Tindall is expected to receive $172,000 and is likely to land lucrative advertising deals.

As non-working members of the royal family, they receive no public money – his wife is a professional horse rider, but also benefited from a trust fund set up by the Queen Mother for her great-grandchildren.

The couple live in a cottage on her mother’s Gatcombe Estate, in Gloucestershire, 50 miles west of Oxford.

Tindall has already started making money by filming TV ads for Domino’s Pizza and Amazon Prime.

His Olympic wife has advertising deals with Rolex, Land Rover and outdoor clothing company Musto, among others.

During an interview with The Times of London last year, Tindall explained that his earnings from speaking after dinner (which he charges between $2,800 and $5,800, according to the After Dinner World agency) have stalled during the pandemic.

“You always worry about money,” he said, adding that after he retired from rugby in 2014, “I was lucky enough to have a few ambassadorial roles so money is coming in, but sponsorship doesn’t last forever.

‘You have to plan and now with a third’ [child] along the way and what is at stake in terms of school fees.’

Tindall, who was born in a mining village in the north of England, said he expects to face tough challenges in the jungle because of his family.

“I am fully aware that anyone who has ever played rugby will say, ‘Yeah, let’s sew it up,'” he said.

“My whole friendship group has that kind of humor and I know they’ll definitely want to vote for me!

“I’m ready to take on a lot of challenges.”

Mike reveals his friend and former I’m A Celebrity star James Haskell sang so much praise for the program that he decided to finally say yes.

He added: “It’s dawning on me now that I’m in. I’m ready to mess around.

‘I have been asked several times to participate. The timing was right this year and Hask (James) was doing the show and he was talking about it.”

He joked that he won’t mind taking part in the famous food trials because it’s a chance to have some ‘protein’, adding: ‘I’ve been out of the game for eight years now, so I’m a bit more realistic about food, but I know James said the lack of food can be difficult at times.

‘But at least with the food tests you get food in you! It may not taste very good, but at least it serves a purpose and gives you a protein intake. Bring on those challenges.’

Describing himself as an ‘open book’, Tindall added: ‘With a game of rugby you know what you’re going to get and when the going gets tough, you know what it looks like.

‘You can’t predict this; you don’t know where it will take you and so you can’t really plan it. Your ability to roll with the punches is a must have.

“Hopefully I have that and I won’t think too much. Hopefully my personality fits in here.’

The 2003 World Cup winner and MBE holder, who has three children with Zara, added that he will “first of all” miss his family.

He said, ‘I will also miss my bed and a nice breakfast.

“I don’t think I’d mind sleeping in a hammock, but it’ll be interesting because I wouldn’t say I’m someone who falls asleep all over the place.

“But I’ve slept in a hammock before and your body will get used to that eventually.”