Mike Tindall’s company claims furlough cash despite his millionaire status and marriage to Zara 

Mike Tindall’s personal company claims furlough cash despite the World Cup-winning rugby star’s millionaire status and marriage to Queen’s granddaughter Zara

  • The ex-England star has a company to manage his speaking engagements
  • After work dried up in the past year, the firm made use of the government grants
  • Company accounts indicate the firm only has one employee

Mike Tindall’s company has been claiming furlough money despite him being a member of the Royal Family with a huge personal wealth.

The former England rugby star, 42, who is married to the Queen’s granddaughter Zara, has a firm to manage his speaking engagements, which have dried up during the pandemic.

The company, Kimble Trading Ltd, has confirmed it claimed government aid. Accounts indicate it has only one member of staff.

Mike Tindall’s company has been claiming furlough despite him being a member of the Royal Family with a huge personal wealth

The former England rugby star, 42, who is married to the Queen's granddaughter Zara, missed out on speaking engagements due to the pandemic

The former England rugby star, 42, who is married to the Queen’s granddaughter Zara, missed out on speaking engagements due to the pandemic

His company Kimble Trading Ltd has admitted it received the government aid earmarked for at risk companies

His company Kimble Trading Ltd has admitted it received the government aid earmarked for at risk companies

According to The Sun, accounts for the firm, which were filed in December, said: ‘The outbreak of Covid-19 and subsequent restrictions imposed have led to a number of events in 2020 being cancelled.

‘The company has taken advantage of all available government aid in order to support the business and its employees through the crisis.’

It also appears on a government list of companies which have made use of the government grants. 

His speaking firm appears on a government list of companies which have made use of the government grants

His speaking firm appears on a government list of companies which have made use of the government grants 

What is the furlough scheme?

Through furlough, workers can claim 80 per cent of their usual wages, up to a ceiling of £2,500 a month.

The employees are not allowed to work during this period, with employers only having to contribute national insurance and pension costs.

Businesses can use the scheme for employees for any amount of time and across any shift pattern, including furloughing them full time. 

For the self-employed, support grants are now available at 80 per cent of average profits. 

Furlough was replaced in September by the Job Support Scheme which is only for people working at businesses legally required to close. 

The Treasury estimates costs of a billion pounds a month for every million workers on the scheme. 

Official figures showed that the scheme, which ends at the end of April, had reached £46.4billion before Christmas.

Conservative MP Nigel Mills said about the Royal’s company: ‘It’s a bit rich for Mike Tindall to be taking money from the public purse.’ 

There is no suggestion of any illegality taking place. 

Furlough granted 80 per cent of employees’ normal wages up to £2,500 per month. 

Tindall and his wife Zara live in the 730-acre Gatcombe Park estate in Gloucestershire and are expecting their third child. 

He told The Times last week: ‘You always worry about money.

‘I was very fortunate that I had a couple of ambassadorial roles, so you know there’s money coming in, but sponsorships won’t last for ever. 

‘You’ve got to plan and now with a third on the way and what’s coming down the line in terms of school bills, fees to pay…’ 

Tindall’s representative said he did not receive the furlough payment. 

The government’s furlough scheme has so far cost taxpayers an estimated £50billion but has been used legally by a number of stars.

The grants were aimed at helping companies at risk of going under during the pandemic by taking on the wages of staff who could not work or who might have lost their jobs otherwise.

But some of the rich and famous, such as Victoria Beckham, Stella McCartney, Sir Richard Branson and Sir Philip Green, were criticised for claiming the taxpayer money despite their own personal wealth.