Mike Tindall’s I’m A Celebrity stint ‘won’t impact’ Firm

Mike Tindall’s appearance on the ITV reality show I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! is unlikely to have a negative impact on the Royal Family, an expert has said. Discussing how the England rugby champion’s decision to participate in the demanding show could affect the Firm, Cele Otnes, a US-based marketing professor and co-author of the book Royal Fever: The British Monarchy in Consumer Culture, told Express.co.uk: “I don’t think it will have much impact on the royal brand, as Princess Anne’s children have no titles and aren’t working royals.”Speaking about Mike and his wife’s Zara Tindall’s brand and whether the reality show experience could have an impact on it, the expert added: “I don’t think Zara or Mike Tindall think of themselves as having a brand, which is probably accurate.”That being said, I think it will depend on how the show unfolds (for example, if there are outrageous aspects) whether there will be any negative outcomes.”Buckingham Palace has remained tight-lipped on Mike’s reality show stint, with a spokesman simply pointing out to The Telegraph that Zara’s husband is not a working member of the Royal Family.Asked by Express.co.uk whether Mike had sought permission or advice from the Palace before accepting to take part in the show, a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman did not comment. Indeed, neither Mike nor his wife have ever been senior members of the Firm nor do they carry out public duties on behalf of the Crown. Mike Tindall is part of this year’s cast of I’M A Celebrity, it was announced on Monday (Image: ITV) Mike Tindall and Zara are not working members of the Firm (Image: GETTY)Zara is the only daughter of Princess Anne, who shares also a son – Peter Phillips – with her first husband Mark Phillips.Despite Zara and Peter being the grandchildren of the late Queen, their mother decided against them being given a royal title upon their birth.In an interview marking her 70th birthday in 2020, Princess Anne told Vanity Fair while discussing her children being brought up without the weight of royal titles: “I think it was probably easier for them, and I think most people would argue that there are downsides to having titles.”So I think that was probably the right thing to do.” READ MORE: Meghan shares insights on raising her children Mike Tindall is Princess Anne’s son-in-law (Image: GETTY) Mike Tindall won the Rugby World Cup in 2003 (Image: GETTY)This allowed the brother and sister to carve the path in life they preferred, free from any constraints linked to royal titles and working in support of the Crown.Zara followed in her mother’s footsteps and became a skilled equestrian who, in 2012, won a silver medal at the London Olympics.Her husband Mike also made a name for himself as an athlete, as he played rugby for several years and, in 2003, he was part of the England squad that won the World Cup.Much focus was put on Mike’s past career as a rugby player on the ITV website introducing the line-up of this year’s reality show.DON’T MISS Prince Edward given new patronage as he shares ‘exciting’ announcement [REPORT]Uproar as Tom Bower calls for Meghan to lose title over Duke’s memoir [CLIP]Prince Harry memoir torn apart by Steph McGovern [INSIGHT] Mike Tindall and Zara got married in 2011 (Image: GETTY)However, his links to royalty were also spelled out, with Mike’s brief biography by ITV reading: “Former English Rugby Union player Mike Tindall will become the first member of the Royal Family to take part in I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! and he predicts he will get voted to do all the famous trials in the jungle.”Tindall – who is married to Princess Anne’s daughter Zara – says he knows as soon as his fellow rugby friends find out he is taking part in the hit ITV programme, they will be on speed dial to make sure he does all the trials.”In the brief statement that followed this description, Mike did not mention his royal connections, but rather he said: “I am fully aware that anyone who has ever played rugby will go, ‘Yeah let’s stitch him up’.”All my friendship group has that sort of humour and I know they will definitely want to vote for me! I am prepared to do quite a lot of challenges.” Princess Anne decided against her children having royal titles (Image: GETTY)Over the years Mike, who married Zara in 2011, has at times mentioned his royal connections, in particular during the podcast he co-hosts – The Good, The Bad & The Rugby.Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, Mike sat down with his co-hosts Alex Payne and James Haskell to pay tribute to the late monarch.During the special and poignant episode, Mike also found space to share a funny anecdote, saying that, out of habit, he almost “curtsied to the King” during a private family meeting.While neither Zara nor Mike are working royals, they regularly attend gatherings open to wider members of the Firm.