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

Buckingham Palace is bracing itself for another PR nightmare after Prince Harry‘s cousin-in-law signed up to join the cast of a reality TV show, a week after troubling details about the prince’s memoir were revealed.

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

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

The 44-year-old father of four has promised to be ‘an open book’ – likely leading to sleepless nights among Palace courtiers.

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

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

Prince Harry is pictured with his cousin Zara Phillips and her husband Mike Tindall. Tindall is flying to Australia to participate in a reality TV show, just as the news of Harry’s memoir lands

Former rugby star Mike Tindall – married to Prince Harry’s cousin Zara Phillips – will become the first member of the royal family to compete on I’m A Celebrity

Prince Harry’s memoir will be published on January 10, and its contents are causing concern within the royal household

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 ‘bushtucker trial’ – usually eating insects, completing an obstacle course, or being trapped with animals.

Based on their performance, voters choose who to eliminate each week, and who is the ultimate winner.

If any of the celebrities find the experience of sleeping in the forest, in a hammock and cooking for themselves without any modern comforts too much, they can yell: ‘I’m a celebrity, get me out of here!’ – and immediately leave the show.

Previous winners have included Margaret Thatcher’s daughter Carol, pop singer Kian Egan from the boy band Westlife, and former England soccer manager Harry Redknapp.

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

The Culture Club singer, whose 1983 song Karma Chameleon was a worldwide smash, is the highest-paid contestant, earning a reported $575,000.

Tindall is expected to be paid $172,000, and will likely secure lucrative advertising deals.

Mike Tindall pictured with his wife Zara on their wedding day in July 2011. They now have three children

Mike Tindall and his Olympic sportswoman wife are pictured in June at the Wimbledon tennis tournament

Mike Tindall arriving at Brisbane airport in Australia ahead of his appearance on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!

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

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

Tindall has already begun making money – filming TV adverts for Domino’s Pizza and Amazon Prime. 

His Olympian 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 his income from after-dinner speaking (for which he charges between $2,800 and $5,800, according to the After Dinner World agency) ground to a halt during the pandemic.

‘You always worry about money,’ he said, adding that after he’d retired from rugby in 2014: ‘I was very fortunate that I had a couple of ambassadorial roles so there’s money coming in, but sponsorships won’t last forever.

‘You’ve got to plan and now with a third [child] on the way and what’s coming down the line in terms of school fees to pay.’

Tindall, born in a mining village in the north of England, said that he expects to be given tough challenges in the jungle, due to his family. 

‘I am fully aware that anyone who has ever played rugby will go, ”Yeah let’s stitch him up”,’ he said. 

‘All my friendship group has that sort of humor and I know they will definitely want to vote for me! 

‘I am prepared to do quite a lot of challenges.’

Mike Tindall, 44, appeared to poke fun at his royal connections for a second time this week as he appeared in an advert for Amazon Prime – days after he starred in an advert for a pizza delivery company

During the pizza delivery commercial he delivers a takeaway to former England rugby teammate James Haskell

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

He added: ‘It is sinking in now that I am taking part.  I am ready to rumble. 

World Champion equestrian Zara Phillips, with a Land Rover Discovery at the Hurlingham Club in London. Land Rover is one of her sponsors

‘I have been asked on numerous occasions to take part. The timing was right this year and Hask (James) did the show and he had been talking about it.’ 

He went onto joke that he won’t mind taking part in the famous eating trials because it’s a chance to have some ‘protein’, adding: ‘I am eight years out of the game now so I am a bit more realistic about food, but I know James said the lack of food can sometimes be hard. 

‘But at least with the eating trials, you get food in you! It might not taste very nice but at least it is serving a purpose and giving you a protein intake. Bring on those challenges.’ 

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

‘This is something you can’t predict; you don’t know where it will take you and so you can’t really plan for it. Your ability to roll with the punches is something you have got to have. 

‘Hopefully, I have that and I won’t overthink things. Hopefully, my personality suits this.’

The 2003 World Cup winner and MBE holder, who has three children with Zara, added ‘first and foremost’ he will miss his family.

He said: ‘I will miss my bed too and a nice breakfast. 

‘I don’t think I am too bothered about sleeping in a hammock but it will be interesting as I wouldn’t say I am someone who falls asleep anywhere. 

‘But I have slept in a hammock before and it is something your body will get used to in time.’ 

Cast: (L-R) Mike Tindall, Owen Warner, Olivia Attwood, Charlene White, Boy George, Scarlette Douglas, Sue Cleaver, Chris Moyles, Babatúndé Aléshé and Jill Scott have been unveiled as the I’m A Celebrity 2022 lineup