Ever heard of a prince becoming a farmer?
How about the British royal who makes furniture, or the helicopter-flying duchess?
It may sound ludicrous, but these royals really do work fairly regular jobs.
Keep watching for more.
There's a reason you don't often see Princess Beatrice on official outings like her fellow
British royals — because she doesn't have to.
Beatrice isn't a "working royal" and therefore isn't paid by the Sovereign Grant that funds
the members of the royal family who work for the queen full-time.
Instead, after Princess Beatrice completed her degree in history at Goldsmiths University
in London, she entered the workforce and got a regular job.
Beatrice worked as an analyst for Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc. until 2015 and, in 2016,
she became the vice president of partnerships and strategy at software company Afiniti.
According to the company's site, Beatrice is responsible for the management of the company's
partnerships as well as company growth and development.
Princess Eugenie has followed in her older sister's footsteps, eschewing her royal duties
for a slightly more common line of work.
Eugenie earned a degree from Newcastle University in English literature, art history, and politics
back in 2012.
After her studies, Eugenie moved to New York in 2013 to get a regular job, and she soon
began working for auction house Paddle8.
After a couple of years in the United States, Princess Eugenie moved back to London to work
for the art gallery Hauser & Wirth.
Princess Eugenie's responsibilities have included planning special projects, supporting artists
in the gallery and managing events.
In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, Eugenie explained how she's always loved art.
She said:
"I knew I definitely wouldn't be a painter, but I knew this was the industry for me.
I love being able to share my passion for art with people.
If someone doesn't understand something, you have the ability to suggest, 'Maybe you can
look at it this way.'
That's what I find most thrilling about working in a gallery."
Peter Phillips is a name that's probably unfamiliar to those without an intimate knowledge of
the inner-workings of the British royal family.
When he was born, his mother, Princess Anne, rejected the offer of a royal title for her
children from the queen — likely in an effort to give them a normal childhood.
"What do you call her?"
"What do you call your granny?"
"Grandma, and granny."
"There you go."
While Phillips has undoubtedly gone on to lead a relatively quiet life compared to the
more high-profile members of his family, it's hard to say whether his lack of a title helped
in that regard.
After earning a degree in Sports Science from the University of Exeter in 2000, he went
on to get a regular job — or, rather, a series of regular jobs.
During this time, he held positions at Jaguar, Williams Racing, and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
In 2012, Phillips became the Managing Director at sports and entertainment company SEL UK
Ltd.
According to the company's website, Phillips is responsible for increasing "the commercial
value for both sports and entertainment rights holders in the U.K., whilst delivering world
class events to London."
Princess Michael of Kent is married to the queen's first cousin, Prince Michael.
As members of the extended royal family, the couple does not perform official royal duties
or receive public funding.
However, Princess Michael and her husband support the queen at some events and act as
patrons of several charitable organizations.
While Princess Michael does have a more regular job than working royals, her job is unique
compared to other non-working royals' positions.
The princess has released multiple books over the years, including works of historical nonfiction
and The Anjou Trilogy, a fictional series.
In addition to her books, Princess Michael has had an extensive career as a lecturer.
Before she became a royal and accomplished author, though, Princess Michael was an interior
designer, and she even ran her own interior design company.
Zara Tindall, Princess Anne's daughter, followed in her mother's footsteps and became an accomplished
equestrian, even winning a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics in London.
"Was it very important that you beat your mother's record?"
"No, but it's very important that I beat my father's."
Though her racing days aren't yet behind her, Tindall began a new role in 2019 that is well-suited
to someone who has dedicated so much of their life to equestrianism: she became a director
at the Cheltenham Racecourse.
Of her new regular job, Tindall said:
"I'm passionate about horse racing, particularly on the Jumps side, and the absolute pinnacle
of that is Cheltenham.
Racing is simply the most exciting sport and it's open to all.
[...] It's an honor to have been asked by Martin St Quinton on behalf of The Jockey
Club to get involved in a more formal capacity and I look forward to doing my bit to support
the executive team in the years to come."
The members of Greece's royal family don't receive quite as much media attention as their
British counterparts, which has likely aided in Princess Marie-Chantal's quiet success.
Before the princess was set up on a date with the Crown Prince of Greece, she was a high
school student who was passionate about art and about to embark on an internship with
Andy Warhol.
However, Marie-Chantal's royal courtship didn't mean an end to her studies.
In fact, it was just the opposite.
Marie-Chantal later told Vanity Fair:
"When I was pregnant, I started to get itchy feet again.
And I was desperate to do something on my own merit."
That itchy feeling led her to launch her own line of children's clothing.
Nowadays, the company ships to over 45 countries, with Marie-Chantal serving as both the CEO
and the creative director.
Of the company, Marie-Chantal told Vanity Fair:
"The business is what makes me me.
That's why I called it Marie-Chantal — with no 'princess' or anything.
It gives me my independence.
It gives me incredible pleasure and focus.
And it belongs to me 100 percent."
David Linley, the son of Princess Margaret and photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones, has
lived a much quieter life than his famous parents.
His name hardly makes headlines the way the working royals' do, allowing Linley to focus
on his passion he's had since he was a child: furniture making.
As a child, Linley loved to be in his father's rooms.
Linley recalled to Vanity Fair that he loved the "avant-garde" furniture his father made,
and how that love of furniture ultimately led him to his professional endeavor: opening
an eponymous furniture company.
While in the past Linley made many of his pieces himself, he was honest about his current
role to Vanity Fair, saying:
"I'm sort of the enabler.
I'll look at a space and I'll put furniture ideas in it.
But I very much try to encourage the next generation of designers to come through.
That I like doing.
That's exciting."
Prior to joining the royal family, Meghan Markle was a working actor with a decent number
of roles under her belt.
Markle made her on screen debut in the '90s, but her work ethic was established much earlier.
As an ambitious young teenager, she earned minor ducats at a local frozen yogurt shop.
"What's the first role you ever auditioned for?"
"Hot girl number one in 'A Lot Like Love' with Ashton Kutcher."
Markle's adult years were filled with bit parts, though her biggest role to date was
in Suits.
Upon becoming a duchess, Markle left the show, explaining during a joint interview with Harry
that she wanted to focus on making a difference instead.
However, when she and Harry stepped down from the royal family, there was speculation Markle
might return to Hollywood.
In 2020, the former actor lent her voice to Elephant, a Disney+ documentary.
The duchess actually signed a voiceover deal with the conglomerate to benefit conservation
organization Elephants Without Borders.
It may not have the glamor of Suits, but it's still a long way from the yogurt shop.
Prince Joachim of Denmark is not likely to sit on the Danish throne.
However, he sometimes acts as regent when his mother, the queen, and his older brother,
the heir apparent, are abroad.
Because he is further down the line of succession and doesn't have the weight of the monarchy
resting on his shoulders, he's had ample time to pursue his own interests.
Before taking a role in the military, Prince Joachim worked on a farm and studied agrarian
economics.
Then, the prince went on to embark on a long military career that eventually led to him
becoming a lieutenant colonel in 2011.
Despite his extensive military background, Prince Joachim's interest in farming never
went away.
In fact, Prince Joachim owns and runs a number of farming and forestry operations, which
primarily center on industrial agriculture.
In September 2021, the prince started work at the Danish Embassy to France as a defense
attaché.
In an Instagram post, he shared:
"I feel ready for the post after finishing a demanding year of study at the Center des
Hautes Etudes Militaires in June.
A lot of exciting tasks lie ahead for the Armed Forces and for Denmark."
Sarah Ferguson isn't technically a royal anymore since, as she split from Prince Andrew all
the way back in 1992.
The former couple still lives together, however, and the Duchess of York frequently attends
events alongside other members of the monarchy.
Unlike many other British royals, though, Ferguson still works.
The duchess grafted for much of her life.
More recently, she told Swedish TV show Skavlan all about being a teenage cleaner and working
as a waitress over the years.
Ferguson quipped:
"Then I married a prince, it was great."
These days, despite no longer being an official royal, Ferguson has a somewhat more glamorous
life.
She has several businesses, and she is also a successful author, penning children's books
as well as several autobiographies.
"Really, I feel very proud at 61 to start a new career."
Likewise, the duchess notably has many charitable initiatives, partnering her foundation with
Street Child in 2018.
Daughters Beatrice and Eugenie, meanwhile, are ambassadors for the charity.
Ferguson also reportedly holds a helicopter license — just in case she ever needs another
side hustle.
With the COVID-19 pandemic raging, Princess Sofia of Sweden attempted to prove she was
a woman of the people by rolling up her sleeves and getting to work.
Sofia completed an intensive online training course so she could help out at Sophiahemmet
Hospital, where she was already Honorary Chair.
She reportedly posed for photos wearing scrubs and sneakers, with her hair pulled back from
her face and the requisite ID tag proudly displayed.
Although Sofia couldn't perform any medical procedures, she was expected to pitch in with
hospital staff wherever she was needed.
The hospital, much like many medical institutions all over the world, was overwhelmed with patients
thanks to the deadly virus.
They launched an emergency training program in a desperate bid for help and Sofia, surprisingly,
answered the call, inspiring dozens of other citizens to do so.
She may be glamorous, but Sofia has long been considered the toughest member of the Swedish
royal family, even completing a Tough Viking challenge that has been compared to America's
Tough Mudder event.
Evidently, she's not afraid of getting her hands dirty.
Being a model isn't exactly a regular job, but it appears to be considerably more work
than simply being a full-time royal.
Prince Nikolai of Denmark is an in-demand model who has his parents' full backing to
work however he pleases.
In fact, his dad, Prince Joachim, told a Danish news site:
"Nikolai's future shall be conducted entirely by his own plan."
He reportedly signed to local agency Scoop Models in 2018, and he has already graced
the runways of both London and Paris' Fashion Weeks.
Nikolai also walked in Dior's Pre-Fall 2019 show in Tokyo, after notably opening Kim Jones'
debut menswear showcase for the iconic brand shortly beforehand.
Although Nikolai doesn't stand to inherit any money from his parents, they will cover
his educational costs.
In 2019, it was reported that the prince intended to pursue a degree at Copenhagen Business
School, at one point telling the Danish press:
"I do not want a career as a model.
I'd rather look at it as a job, which can help me along the way while educating me."
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