Zara and Mike Tindall appeared completely at ease as they took to the beach today, during their annual visit to Australia for the Magic Millions polo and showjumping event.

The couple, who reside on Princess Anne’s Gatcombe estate, opted for a laid-back look, sporting shorts and T-shirts as they walked along the picturesque Broadbeach on the Gold Coast, enjoying a serene moment amidst their busy horse racing schedule.

Known for their approachable demeanor, public displays of affection, and friendly interactions with King Charles and Prince William, Zara and Mike are often regarded as a secret asset to the Royal Family.

However, those hoping to see them play a larger role in the monarchy might be let down. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams suggests that the couple’s lucrative lives as non-working royals offer too many benefits to give up.

This week, Zara, who is Princess Anne’s daughter and 44 years old, demonstrated why she’s unlikely to join the senior ranks of the royal family. She unveiled a stunning new jewelry collection with Australian jeweler John Calleija, featuring pieces priced up to £26,000.

This collaboration, which has thrived for over a decade, is just one of the many high-profile partnerships that the Tindalls are involved in.

Using her unique position of being a part of the royal family but not having a title to maximum advantage, the mother-of-three also has longstanding associations with luxury brands such as Rolex, Musto and Land Rover.

But it’s not only brand partnerships that Zara and her rugby ace husband, 47, would have to abandon if they were to become senior working royals (since the likes of the Prince and Princess of Wales are not permitted to earn money through paid sponsorships).

Indeed, the couple would have to follow the will of the royal calendar, meaning their annual trip to Australia, for instance, would likely have to take a hiatus.

Zara and Mike Tindall pictured strolling on the beach on Australia’s Gold Coast this week; the ‘most relatable royals’ are enjoying their now annual trip Down Under for the polo and showjumping Magic Millions event

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Mr Fitzwilliams said: ‘They have a lucrative lifestyle, they are popular and they have unconventional personal profiles. 

‘There is no chance that they would ever give this up for a more staid, regimented existence where they were the centre of media attention as working royals when they didn’t want it!’

The expert suggests that while fans of the family would love the Tindalls to be working royals, they shouldn’t hold out hopes of it happening anytime soon. 

He explains: ‘They would give the institution a lively, contemporary feel and everyone knows they are talented sporting figures. [But they have] a good life and they seem to be loving it! 

‘Zara is celebrating another endorsement deal in Australia with her new jewellery collection linked with an Australian designer brand. 

‘They both enjoy their freedom and both are fortunate enough to have favourable public images. They are both popular and wealthy. 

‘They are not working royals but are able to enjoy the benefits of being members of the royal family and that makes them high profile. This makes them ideal for endorsing brands and this has reportedly made them a great deal of money.’

Relatable royals! The Tindalls are popular figures with royal fans but, says expert Richard Fitzwilliams, they’re unlikely to ever step up as full working royals 

The couple, parents to Mia Grace, Lena Elizabeth and Lucas Philip, pictured at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast; both Zara and Mike enjoy lucrative collaborations with big name brands

‘Zara is popular and highly respected. She was also 5th in line to the throne when she was born. Princess Anne wisely did not burden her and her brother Peter with a title.’

He continued: ‘The public admire her as a talented equestrian who won a Silver Medal at the 2012 Olympics which her mother presented her with, this was a wonderful moment for any family, and especially for the royal family as it made it a national event. Proof of her popularity was being voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

‘Mike is notable as a former rugby captain. He has an unconventional, laddish style and is regarded as engaging and authentic.

‘Both of them are well known personalities and that makes them ideal to endorse products. They get the benefits of being royal but not the debits.’

Princess Anne’s daughter promoted her range with Calleija Jewellers on the company’s Instagram page this week, posing for cameras while dripping in tens of thousands of pounds worth of gold.

‘Born from their mutual desire to create an elegant and refined collection that perfectly defines the modern woman, Zara Tindall and John Calleja have fused their unique talents to conceive a contemporary yet timeless collection,’ the website reads.

But those wanting to emulate the royal must fork out a pretty penny with her standout pieces including a £26,880 18-carat yellow gold Coronet Necklace and a £21,600 diamond ring.

Zara has enjoyed a long-running collaboration with the luxury brand since 2015.

Zara’s collection with the luxury brand is described as ‘contemporary yet timeless’ (pictured modelling for Calleija)

Zara pictured in 2015 in London, attending the official launch of an earlier collection with Calleija

Founder of bespoke jewellers Kimjoux, Trang Do, told the Daily Mail how the longstanding collaboration has managed to be so successful. 

‘For Calleija, this creates repeat purchasing and brand loyalty; for Zara, it reinforces her positioning as someone with genuine taste and discernment. 

‘As a result, the collaboration feels less like a celebrity endorsement and more like a natural extension of the brand’s DNA; which is exactly why it has endured and continues to resonate with a luxury jewellery audience.’

The collaboration is yet another show of how Zara and her husband, Mike, are some of the most in-demand members of the Royal Family, despite not actually holding any royal titles. 

Together, the pair have amassed an estimated £30million fortune from a number of shrewd deals, sponsorships and endorsements. 

England Rugby legend Mike is the fourth richest former player in the UK and his time in the I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here jungle in 2022 helped him bag even more brand partnerships.

The Rugby World Cup winner’s light-hearted personality saw him prove a hit with TV fans – and net a rumoured £150,000, and his podcast The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, co-hosted with England rugby legends James Haskell and broadcaster Alex Payne, is now in its sixth season. 

In addition to adverts and reality shows, Mike also runs a company, Kimble Trading Ltd, which oversees various business activities – including managing his speaking appearances.

King Charles and Zara hug as they greet each other on day 3 of the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle on May 3, 2024

Mike, Zara and their daughters Mia Grace and Lena Elizabeth attend the traditional Easter Sunday Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on April 9, 2023

It is thought that Mike earns a six-figure salary from the company, although he came under fire during the pandemic after it was revealed Kimble Trading had received furlough cash. 

Zara has long praised her mother for allowing her children to carve their own paths. 

The enviable life the couple now enjoy, says Zara, is because she wasn’t granted a formal role at birth. 

In 2023, Zara Tindall told late former rugby player Rob Burrow’s Total Sport podcast, she felt ‘lucky’ for the life the couple have.   

During the discussion, Rob – who died from motor neurone disease in 2024 – asked the couple what advice they would give to their seven-year-old selves.

Although she was originally daunted by the question, Zara went on to discuss her role in the Institution – and how happy she is that Princess Anne didn’t force her and her brother Peter to be working royals.

She explained: ‘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.’