Mike Tindall has been accused of 'cashing in' on his royal status by signing up for ' I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here!' by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle 's biographer.
Omid Scobie has been criticised for slamming the former England rugby player and wife of Elizabeth II's granddaughter Olympian Zara - who in turn released a video promoting a sportswear brand.
He said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex would have been scrutinised heavily if either was to make similar moves.
The author of Finding Freedom said "big bucks only come because of their positions" in the Firm - but the Tindalls have been celebrated rather than questioned by the masses.
However Mr Scobie also admitted that the couple are both celebrated sportspeople in their own right aside from their ties to the throne.
Mike won the World Cup in 2003 during a successful rugby career and Zara won silver at the 2012 London Olympics.
The ex-outside centre and equestrian are not titled or working royals as Harry and Meghan were when they stepped down in 2020.
In his yahoo! column Mr Scobie wrote: "Cashing in on royal status is usually a trigger to dedicated royalists and media outlets, many of whom have spent the past two years complaining about the various business antics of a certain royal couple in California, so I find it peculiar that this recent news about the Tindalls’ various royal cash-ins come and go without even a sound from the most sensitive of columnists.
"In fact it’s been quite the opposite," he added.
He went on to say that he actually finds "nothing wrong" with Zara and Mike "securing every bag on offer", admitting such sums "would have always been available to them during their careers".
But said the bigger money they attract is, in fact, also thanks to their royal status.
Mr Scobie then made reference to Princess Anne's other child, businessman Peter Philips, who promoted Bright Dairies milk in China during a 2020 campaign.
The journalist said "only a fool" would think he was chosen for his success in the boardroom.
He continued: "It boils back to that selective outrage that is all too familiar to anyone following the bubble of the royal beat."
Mr Scobie's column received a mixed response, with Twitter user Laura Comiskey tweeting: "They are not titled or working royals and never have been."
This prompted the royal commentator to respond: "The article makes that quite clear."
Another Twitter user, TOFDYFED, wrote: "Mike and Zara have never been working royals. Each have had their own successful careers and no royal title to trade on."
Similarly, Joanne Taylor tweeted: "Difference is Mike was never paid for royal duties. He has never represented the Crown. He like his wife are private citizens who hold NO titles."
