Princess Anne's son launches new career bid with tribute to mum's second favourite 'passion'
Peter Phillips, son of Princess Anne, has founded a new company that will seek to digitise the world of shipping certification and has turned to a "boffin" for help
Princess Anne's son, Peter Phillips, is diving into a new business venture with Maritime Passport Ltd, aiming to revolutionise the shipping industry by digitising its certifications. Despite being founded last year, the company is yet to launch its own website as it gears up to modernise the age-old maritime certification process.
Peter, 47, has dabbled in various careers, including corporate hospitality and sponsorship management, and even ventured into the Covid test market. His eclectic career path has seen him star in a Chinese TV advert, fondly recalling his days sipping Jersey milk from the Windsor royal herd.
Phillips isn't stopping there; he's also dipped his toes into the commercial property sector, shelling out over £5 million to become a landlord for a collection of shops, eateries, and bars in Bath.
Joining forces with him in this nautical enterprise is "boffin" Professor Basak Akdemir, aged 50, who boasts a trustee position at the Turkish Maritime Education Foundation and holds a PhD with a thesis on improving supply forecasting in the shipping industry, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
Richard Eden, penning his thoughts in Eden Confidential, said: "That presumably explains why one of Phillips's four co-directors is quite a boffin. She's Professor Basak Akdemir, 50, who, among numerous other roles, serves as a trustee of the Turkish Maritime Education Foundation.
"Understandably, Phillips, 47, whose latest girlfriend since divorcing Autumn Kelly is writer and nurse Harriet Sperling, can't quite match that.
"He has a degree in Sports Science from Exeter University and, perhaps more pertinently, was from childhood onwards regularly aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia - used by his sister for her pre-wedding party to Mike Tindall.
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"Above all else, he has, in his mother, Princess Anne, someone whose passion for the sea comes second only to her love for being in the saddle."
Due to a historical edict, neither Peter nor sister Zara Tindall were entitled to royal titles at birth, as such distinctions can only be bestowed through their father - and their father, Captain Mark Phillips, does not hold a royal title.
During a recent interview, husband Mike expressed contentment with the non-titled status within his family.
The ex-England rugby player expressed to Closer UK: "I would definitely turn that down."
It wasn't just tradition at play; Princess Anne herself had opportunities to grant her children titles as they grew older but chose not to.
Zara has commented on the drawbacks of royalty, showing her appreciation for being title-free during a Vanity Fair interview in 2020, stating: "I think most people would argue that there are downsides to having titles... So I think that was probably the right thing to do."
Sharing her perspective on The Total Sport Podcast, Zara underlined the advantages of not carrying a title and praised her mother's decision: "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."
The absence of royal titles for Zara and Mike Tindall is often mentioned as a factor in their reputation as the most approachable and grounded members of the Royal Family.
Their friendliness has not affected the strong bonds they share within The Firm, with Mike forming an especially close connection with his cousin-in-law, Prince William.