When it comes to the Royal Family’s daily duties, most of us picture grand events, supporting The Queen in her many State and national duties, attending charity events and raising awareness for important causes.
But – despite the constant flood of paparazzi and press – it can be difficult to discern what it is the family members actually do.
While traditional jobs may not spring to mind, many members of the royal family have, and still do, hold jobs beyond the grounds of the palaces.
So, in order to take a deeper dive, FDM Group is revealing the ‘royals first jobs’, looking at roles ranging from military service to the shop floor at Selfridges department store.
FDM comments: “While we may not all hold the privilege of being born into royalty, many members of the Royal Family have a wealth of experience to take inspiration from. With a range of career paths across the monarchy, it may surprise many people to see the scope of jobs these royals have on their CV.”
Here is FDM Group’s guide to the most surprising and inspiring royal ‘first jobs’, looking at where these famous family members got their start in the working world:
Princess Beatrice
While you likely don’t see Princess Beatrice as a regular on royal outings, there is a reason for this – she isn’t obligated to. As a “non-working” royal, she isn’t paid by the Sovereign Grant that funds the members of the royal family, therefore she isn’t required to conduct public duties.
Rather, this royal gained a history degree from Goldsmiths, University of London before entering the regular working world. During the summer of 2008, she was a sales assistant at the famous London department store Selfridges and then worked in the Foreign Office as a press officer. Since then, the Princess has gone on to work at venture capital firm Sandbridge and later software company Afiniti.
So, while this royal family member may get to experience some of the allure of being a part of the world’s most famous family, she in fact has a 9-5.
Prince Harry
As the sixth in the line to the British throne, Prince Harry is one of the most famous family members of the Royal Family. But, while many may know of the tabloid headlines that cover the prince’s every move, fewer are aware of Prince Harry’s commitment to service.
After graduating from The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in May 2005, Prince Harry began his training as an Officer Cadet. He then went on to serve in the Army for ten years, rising to the rank of Captain and undertaking an honourable two tours in Afghanistan.
Post-service, the Prince has continued to raise awareness for veterans, going on to found the Invictus Games, an international sporting event for wounded and injured servicemen and women. The games aim at creating a fun, supportive environment for veterans, showcasing what they can achieve post-service.
Kate Middleton, The Duchess of Cambridge
It’s no surprise that this British style icon got her start in the working world in the fashion industry. After obtaining an art history degree from St. Andrews University in Scotland, Kate Middleton went on to work as an accessories buyer for the popular high-street brand, Jigsaw. The then-24-year-old worked at the fashion chain for one year before going on to work for Party Pieces, an event planning company owned by her parents.
Since marrying Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge has become an active philanthropist and is involved with over 20 charitable and military organisations, including Action for Children, SportsAid, and the National Portrait Gallery.
Camilla, The Duchess of Cornwall
Famed as the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla is the heir apparent to the British throne, and should Prince Charles succeed, Camilla would automatically become queen consort. With such a big title, it’s hard to imagine this Duchess working amongst the rest of us. But, she has in fact had an impressive resume before marrying the Prince.
After studying French and French Literature at the Institut Britannique in Paris, Camilla worked in London’s famous West End as a secretary and later, as a receptionist for the decorating firm Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler in Mayfair.
Prince William
After graduating from the University of St. Andrews in Scotland in 2005, Prince William joined the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. Like his brother, Prince William has also been committed to service and went on to serve seven years in the military. During this time, the young Prince completed his training in an office, before working as an air ambulance pilot.
After leaving operational duties with the Armed Forces, the Prince retrained to become an Air Ambulance Pilot, going on to work for the East Anglian Air Ambulance for more than two years from March 2015.
While the Prince may not be on active duty anymore, he certainly is an inspiration to anyone looking to serve.
For many members of the royal family or those who have chosen to step out of the regal spotlight – they, like the rest of us, have to work for a living. Within this, each member has stepped into their individual passions and interests, showcasing how your dream career path can fall across a diverse range of options.
So, whether you’re a university graduate, in the military, or even a member of the royal family, there’s something out there for everyone.
Interested in taking after one of these family members? Build your dream career path with FDM group, whose mission is to bring people and technology together by providing services in the recruit, train, and deploy sector.
