Mike Tindall, the man married to Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter, Zara Tindall, has opened up about his worries over money and providing for his growing family with a third baby expected in May 2021.
The former England rugby professional revealed in an interview with The Times that there are both benefits and negatives to earning money as a retired sportsman who is married to a blood royal.
After his success in rugby, Mike remains a recognizable name in England and has earned from sponsorships and speeches. However, the Queen's grandson-in-law said that he has to be careful and aware of his business deals as the husband of a member of the royal family.
He implied that his royal connection doesn't necessarily dictate how he must live his life. Mike said that he and his wife, who is also a sports professional, are generally good at getting the right sponsorship that won't impact their royal status.
Zara, the daughter of Princess Anne, doesn't have a royal title and is not a working royal, which means that her income doesn't come from the support of taxpayers. Unlike her cousin Prince William, Zara has always been able to choose her own path and has earned a private income.
But her husband admitted that their income for 2020 has taken a hit because of COVID-19. As with the rest of the world, the sports industry has generally been on pause so there have been no events nor engagements from sponsors for Mike and Zara to deliver their speeches.
The Tindall pair still have their ambassadorial roles from Land Rover, Rolex and Musto, which earns them $1.5 (£1.1) million a year. Mike said that like any other couples with children, they also think about school fees and bills to pay, especially with the arrival of their new baby.
Buckingham Palace announced in December 2020 that Zara is pregnant her third child with Mike. The Tindalls have two daughters, Mia, who is 7 years old, and Lena, who is 2 years old.
Mike said that they don't want to know the gender of their new baby until the birth. But as much as he loves girls, the soon-to-be dad of three is hoping for a boy this time around.
Mike and Zara met in 2003 when he was still a professional player. The couple has been married since 2011 while Mike retired from rugby in 2014. Zara, on the other hand, competes as an equestrian and is part of the United Kingdom's Olympics team.
