Prince Philip: Royals have 'lost the family leader' says expert

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Finding Freedom biographer Omid Scobie explained the Royal Family will now focus their energies on fewer charities but will have a bigger role within them following many questions about what would happen to Prince Philip’s patronages following his death. The Queen and Prince Philip are patrons of thousands of charities between them which are often symbolic and have been distributed to other family members based on the monarch’s desire. The rumoured “slimming down” of the Royal Family under Prince Charles may force the institution to concentrate its time into fewer ventures but to have a bigger role within them promoting causes. 

Speaking on the Royally Obsessed podcast, Mr Scobie said: “The list of patronages that the Duke of Edinburgh has to his name is quite overwhelming to look at and I don’t think there is a system in place to properly distribute those to all Royal Family members or working royals.

“Because that covers a legacy of 65 years for the Duke so I think we’ll see many of them go into retirement.”

More than 2,800 UK organisations have a royal patron with most having the Queen or the Duke of Edinburgh as theirs. 

But Prince William and Charles also have a wide range of charities between them with the Prince of Wales has over 400 and the Duke of Cambridge has 20. 

These patronages are often given by the Queen who would have been the patron herself but chooses members who may have a good impact on the charities. 

Patronages are also given according to interests with Prince William being a patron of several wildlife charities and Kate Middleton being a patron of children and sports charities. 

Prince Harry had his patronages from the Royal Family removed but was able to keep those which he secured himself. 

Meghan Markle also suffered the same fate after the royal couple revealed they would not be returning to the institution earlier this year. 

Royal Family: Expert discusses monarchy getting smaller

Mr Scobie added: “What we’ve seen from the Cambridges and even the Sussexes when they were working members of the Royal Family is that kind of lesser approach sees a lot more impactful work.

“Harry and Meghan had a very small list of patronages between them but what they managed to do with those patronages was very impressive”

“And I think we’ve seen the Cambridges do very much the same with their’s, certainly as Kate continues with her early years work.”

The royal editor added that the role of a royal patron may change in the future which will be less focused on unveilings and openings and instead on promoting causes throughout their patronages. 

Rumours about a “slimmed down” monarchy have been rampant among royal circles as insiders claim the Queen with Princes William and Charles will discuss the future of the Royal Family.

Some insiders claim there will be only seven members of the Royal Family under Prince Charles with many wondering who they could be. 

There have also been demands to welcome Prince Edward and his wife Sophie to the fold after they saw positive popularity gains during Prince Philip’s funeral. 

Prince Edward and Sophie have also been working quietly behind the scenes during the pandemic and have been helping out at vaccine centres and charities. 

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