Numerous royal enthusiasts have frequently wondered why the cousins of the Prince of Wales do not undertake royal duties, especially during periods of heightened demand on a reduced number of active royals.
Princess Eugenie’s outing to support the Elephant Family charity in March sparked her Instagram followers to share comments like “HRH would make a wonderful working royal. Very much so needed” and “We need you and HRH Princess Beatrice as working royals!”
Nonetheless, there exists a rational explanation for why William’s cousins, including Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie, refrain from undertaking royal duties. Each of them has established their own career paths and holds full-time positions. Zara, in particular, has openly discussed the benefits of her mother, the Princess Royal, not bestowing royal titles upon her and her brother Peter since birth.
Speaking on Seven: Rob Burrow, The Total Sport Podcast last December, she said: “From my point of view, I was obviously very lucky that my mother didn’t give us any titles so I really commend her on that. We were very lucky that we got to do it a bit our own way.”
Zara has mirrored Princess Anne’s path as a highly accomplished equestrian, earning a silver medal as part of Team GB’s eventing team at the 2012 London Olympics. Additionally, she clinched the Eventing World Championship in Aachen in 2006 and was crowned BBC Sports Personality of the Year by public vote that same year.
Balancing her sporting pursuits with family life, the mother of three recently participated in the Thoresby Eventing Spring Carnival over the Easter period.
Meanwhile, Zara’s brother Peter holds the position of head of partner acquisition at the sports and entertainment rights agency CSM Sport & Entertainment. He also serves as the event director for the Festival of British Eventing.
Prior to these roles, the father of two held the position of managing director at the sports and entertainment agency SEL UK. His professional journey includes previous stints as a corporate hospitality manager at Jaguar and with the Williams racing team.
Princess Beatrice’s professional commitments lead her to frequent international travel as she holds the position of Vice President of Partnerships and Strategy at the US-based tech company Afiniti.
Meanwhile, Princess Eugenie embarked on a recent journey to Hong Kong in her capacity as a director for the art gallery Hauser & Wirth.
As for Prince William’s youngest cousins, Lady Louise Windsor, aged 20, and James, the Earl of Wessex, aged 16, they are currently focused on their education. Lady Louise is pursuing studies in English at St Andrews, while James is preparing to take his GCSE exams in the upcoming months.
Their mother, the Duchess of Edinburgh, previously said of her children’s futures in a 2020 interview with The Sunday Times: “We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living.”
During her reign, Queen Elizabeth II received support from her first cousins, including Prince Michael of Kent, Princess Alexandra, the Duke of Kent, and the Duke of Gloucester. However, some of them pursued previous careers before committing to full-time royal duties.
The Duke of Gloucester worked as a practicing partner at an architecture firm until 1972 when he assumed the role of heir apparent to his father’s dukedom following the passing of his elder brother, Prince William.
He relinquished his architectural career to fulfill additional familial responsibilities and undertake royal duties on behalf of his cousin, Queen Elizabeth II.
