A royal commentator has remarked on Princess Anne’s decision not to give either of her children, Zara Tindall or Peter Phillips, royal titles as it “would be a hindrance”
A royal commentator has suggested that Princess Anne may have seen a royal title for her children as a hindrance rather than a help after she fell down the line of succession.
Expert Afua Hagan was reacting to the fact that neither of Anne’s children, Zara Tindall or Peter Phillips, have royal titles. This was a decision taken by Anne and her first husband, Captain Mark Philips, after both were born.
When Anne and Mark were married, he was offered an earldom by Queen Elizabeth II which he refused. When Zara and Peter were born, they were also reportedly offered them, but Mark and Anne, married between 1973 and 1992, also turned them down.
On why they might have done so, Afua told a new Channel 5 documentary: “Princess Anne, on seeing herself slip down the line of succession probably realised that a royal title would be a hindrance rather than a help.”
Meanwhile, the narrator of the documentary, titled ‘Mike: The Royal & The Rugby Player’, added: “Both Zara and her older brother Peter were also offered royal titles.
“However, Princess Anne and Captain Philips decided to turn them down in the hope they would live a more normal life.”
Speaking to Vanity Fair about the decision in 2020, Anne continued to argue her case. She said: “I think most people would argue that there are downsides to having titles… So I think that was probably the right thing to do.”
Zara and Mike Tindall have been married since 2011 after meeting for the first time eight years earlier during the 2003 Men’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Since then their involvement in major public activities has increased, especially since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, and King Charles and Princess Kate being diagnosed with cancer.
As a result, their public profile has become more prominent, they have spoken in more detail about what life is like in the Royal Family, and whether they would want a royal title.
In response to this particular question, Mike told Closer Magazine at a charity fundraiser that it isn’t something he would be up for adding to his CV. He said: “I would definitely turn that down.”
This is a position that has been echoed by Zara who told the Seven: Rob Burrow, The Total Sport Podcast: “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.
“My family has a great work ethic as well which I’m hoping they instilled in me and is still going to this day. Hopefully, we can pass it onto our kids.
“Now, my brother and my cousins love to go back and do the same things and I hope that our children have the same experiences that we did when we were growing up. You don’t really appreciate that until you’re older and you’ve got kids.”
Zara and Mike: the Royal and the Rugby Player airs on Saturday (September 13) at 10pm on Channel 5.
