Princess Diana's former chef has taken umbrage with a new Chinese advert featuring Peter Phillips. The 42-year-old son of Princess Anne is identified as a 'British Royal family member' in two advertisements for Jersey Fresh Milk in Shanghai, the Mail reports. Peter, who has never had HRH status, says in the clip: "Bright Dairies has got a fantastic reputation all over China and outside of China as well, for producing high quality dairy products." With Longleat House and a replica of a royal carriage visible in the background, he continues: "As children, we used to spend a lot of time down at the dairy. There was a herd of Jersey cattle at Windsor and we were brought up on it. And it was always much fuller of flavour, much creamier, than other milks that we had growing up. That has something to do with the ways the cows are bred."
Peter Phillips has appeared in advertisements for Jersey Fresh Milk in Shanghai
Taking to Twitter on Tuesday, former royal chef Darren McGrady disputed Peter's claims. “"his tickles me! Peter Phillips saying he was 'brought up on Windsor Jersey milk'… yeah right!" he wrote. "He must be referring to the 'couple of days at Christmas and a weekend at Easter'. The royal dairy didn't deliver to Gatcombe nor Shaftesbury and Gordonstoun."
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Peter's mother, Princess Anne, famously declined offers from her mother the Queen to give her children titles; as such Peter was the first legitimate grandchild of a monarch in more than 500 years to be born without a title or courtesy title. His advertisement was revealed days after Prince Harry and Meghan were told they could not use their HRH titles for commercial gain following their decision to step back as senior members of the royal family. Instead the couple have said they want to work to become financially independent, and are now free to pursue careers and strike commercial deals.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle no longer HRH
There has been some indication about the Sussexes' future plans for financial independence, after they applied to trademark the Sussex Royal brand in the UK, for items such as books, clothing, education and charitable fundraising. Details of their new foundation are likely to be unveiled in the coming months. Harry has already announced plans to team up with Oprah Winfrey to produce a mental health documentary for Apple – there could also be potential opportunities for him and Meghan to become brand ambassadors for companies such as this in future.
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While no commercial deals have been signed so far, their financial independence means they could seek out fashion lines, sponsorship, become involved with Netflix or Disney, write books, or Meghan could resurrect her lifestyle blog The Tig or acting career. But Buckingham Palace said the couple have vowed that "everything they do will continue to uphold the values" of the Queen.
