Zara Phillips has been auctioned off to the highest bidder. She fetched the princely sum of £25,000. The money, of course, went to charity.

Zara’s side of the bargain was to fly 12,000 miles to Auckland, New Zealand, to work in a biscuit factory. Accounts say she worked from 10am to 2pm, with a leisurely lunch thrown in, and spent most of the time sampling the products, especially the chocolate-chip cookies. Nice work if you can get it.

The owner of the River Mill bakery, Gerald Shand, declared her a “fantastic” member of staff. “She was really charming. I’d hire her again tomorrow.”

The money was paid to Catwalk, a spinal injuries research charity, of which she is patron. Zara is a qualified osteopath.

In recent years she has become one of the most popular members of the Royal Family. AskMen.com says of her :

Zara Phillips is not only hailed as a wonderful Royal because of her fun-loving attitude. Her beauty, accentuated by an acute fashion sense, is striking. Her record of naughtiness while at boarding school and her recent romantic life have not gone unnoticed. In addition to her poise and natural flair for the camera, Phillips’ flirtatious nature makes her the most desirable female Royal around.”