Zara Phillips has become the first member of the royal family to sign a commercial sponsorship deal. She is to become the face of betting firm Cantor Index and the company's logo will feature on her riding gear as she competes in equestrian events.
While she is the first royal to enter into this kind of arrangement, the practise is not unusual in equestrian circles. Indeed Zara's father, Captain Mark Phillips, was funded by Range Rover when he was competing 30 years ago.
"I want to stand on my own two feet," said Princess Anne's daughter after being questioned on how the Queen felt about the deal. "Apart from wanting to achieve things in my own right, I think my grandmother has quite enough to worry about before she gets to me."
It would seem Zara is indeed set on making it on her own. Cantor partner James Blackshaw has revealed it was actually she who solicited the deal when the two met at Cheltenham. At the time he was seeking sponsorship from her, as he was in training to run the London marathon.
"A year ago I asked Zara if she would sponsor me in the marathon and she said she would if I sponsored her," he said. "I had to ask what she did and she said 'everything'. I went and boned up about it and then agreed that we would." James also revealed Zara has yet to pay him the £5 she pledged for his marathon effort.
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