Royals on the career ladder

Buckingham Palace is to draw up new guidelines for working royals. The Earl and Countess of Wessex have denied that they have exploited their royal connections. But they are not alone among the royals in forging their own careers.

Countess of Wessex: Resigned on Sunday as chairwoman of R-JH - the PR firm she founded following revelations about comments she made to an undercover reporter.

Prince Edward: Runs a private television production company called Ardent Productions which he formed in 1993.

Prince of Wales: Uses organic methods to farm 1,100 acres at his home at Highgrove in Gloucestershire.

He has written a book about his experiences, Highgrove: Portrait of an Estate.

The Duchess of York: Advisor to Weight Watchers, children's author, television personality, chat show host.

She wrote the children's book Budgie the Little Helicopter, and has promoted weight loss programmes for Weight Watchers in the US.

Prince Andrew's ex-wife has turned her financial situation around since the days that she was reportedly millions of pounds in debt to the bank.

Lord Snowdon: Usually found behind the camera

She has now been signed up for an advertising campaign for Charles Schwab, a stockbroking firm for a reported £400,000 over two years.

"Financial security doesn't have to be a fairy tale," she tells the television audience.

Prince Michael of Kent: Chairman of his own company, offering specialist advice to several commercial concerns.

He is founder patron of the Genesis Initiative, which encourages the creation and growth of small and medium enterprises.

He was behind a scheme to sell goods made by Royal Warrant holders to millions of Americans under the trade name, the House of Windsor Collection.

The scheme received Buckingham Palace approval and the prince was appointed chairman of the firm's advisory board.

Lord Snowdon, Princess Margaret's ex-husband: World-renowned photographer.

Viscount Linley: Furniture-maker

Viscount David Linley, son of Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon: Has his own furniture making company called David Linley.

Controversy followed the Queen presenting the President of Ghana's wife with one of her nephew's jewellery boxes.

He was also recently at the centre of a storm over a £100,000 deal with Range Rover.

The Hon Angus Ogilvy, husband of Princess Alexandra: Formerly a member of the board of the late Tiny Rowland's company Lonrho, for 12 years.

Duke of Gloucester: Trained architect.

The duke went into practice as a partner in a firm of London architects.

He had planned a full-time career in architecture but, when he became his father's heir he took on increased royal duties and the responsibility for the family estate at Barnwell, in Northamptonshire resigning his partnership.

The duke has also produced three books of photographs: On Public View (1970) which illustrated London statues, The Face of London (1973) and Oxford and Cambridge (1980).