We will use your email address only for sending you newsletters. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights.

Prince Charles is widely believed to be planning a slimmed down version of the monarchy when he ascends to the throne. According to this vision, only full-time working royals would still be able to carry out engagements. 

It has been suggested so-called minor royals with careers of their own such as Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie could lose their HRH styles, leaving the right to bear a full title only to those who have dedicated their lives to the Crown.

The palace has never confirmed or denied whether this is truly Prince Charles’s vision.

However, one expert has warned the Royal Family appears to be already heading towards the path of a slimmed-down monarchy following Megxit and Prince Andrew’s decision to step out of the public eye in the midst of the Epstein scandal.

The selection of working royal, whether happening naturally or being controlled by the future monarch, will have a huge impact on the charitable work and organisations supported by the British Crown, according to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. 

He told Express.co.uk: “Talk of a slimmed down monarchy associated with Charles should not obscure the fact that the royals undertake over 3,000 engagements every year for some 3,000 charities worldwide.

“The ‘inner core’ will be far smaller when Charles becomes king but that will still leave a great number of charitable duties to be handled by other members of the family before William and Kate’s children take up royal engagements.

“The Wessexes have recently said their children are unlikely to undertake them.

“So eventually it seems certain to mean fewer when Charles takes over.”

After Meghan Markle and Prince Harry stepped down as senior royals in March and Prince Andrew said he would temporarily step back in November, only eight senior royals are left carrying out royal duties on a daily basis.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will need to wait several years before being able to start representing the Crown.

On the other hand, the hardest-working royals including Prince Charles, the Queen and Princess Anne are all over-65s, which means they will eventually need to slow down due to their age.

However, a few notable royals have shown their commitment to the Crown doesn’t end when they stop carrying out royal duties.

Prince Philip, who retired from public duties in August 2017, is still at the helm as patron or president of hundreds of charities and patronages. 

The Duke of Edinburgh has stepped out of retirement twice in support of The Rifles, the regiment of which he has been Colonel-in-Chief since 2007.

Last year, the Duke met the outgoing Colonel Commandant of the forces.

Earlier this month, Prince Philip took part in a rare public ceremony in which he officially handed over his title to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

This signals several charities continue to be supported by the Royal Family even after their patrons step down.     

Source: Read Full Article