I can’t quite make out if this story in the Telegraph can be interprited as a official claim or just another news story.

Zara Phillips on Strictly Come Dancing as the European Champion is acceptable but ZP as HM’s granddaughter is a different proposition and unfortunately each report on the weekly show would certainly include the words, “the Queen’s granddaughter.”

I can’t see how that can be acceptable or fair to the other competitors or even to her partner in the show. The pressure would be intense
and the TV ratings would reflect her progress in the show to the possible detriment of the other competitors.

The absence of any reference to Zara’s partner MT is strange as initially it was speculated that they would both be in the show in a similar fashion as the ex Scottish Rugby player and his TV presenter wife last season.

There is no mention of him in the article so perhaps it was never their intention to include him or perhaps there are other reasons.

He is a big strong guy so perhaps it would perhaps be difficult to match him with a partner.

All this doesn’t clarify the position as to the advisability of including ZP without MT in the show or even if she should be included at all.

We shall have to see if the ‘early stage’ contract is followed through with the full contract.