Royal author Phil Dampier said Prince Edward’s wife Sophie would “happily step up to the plate” as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex start a new life in Canada. He told the Daily Mail: “It’s been said for a long time that Prince Charles wants a slimmed down monarchy when he becomes king – but I’m not sure they meant this slim!”

Mr Dampier warned the Royal Family is becoming “seriously understaffed” with Meghan and Harry leaving and Prince Andrew being forced to stand down.

The royal author added: “Prince Philip is retired at 98, the Queen is nearly 94 and Charles and Camilla are in their 70s.

“Princess Anne is 70 this year and the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra are in their 80s. So who is going to take over the hundreds of patronages?”

Mr Dampier said that Sophie has “become a star in her own right”.

He said: “She is very close to Her Majesty and is a favourite of hers.

“Recently she has been on several overseas trips and done fantastically well.

“Now that her children are a bit older I think there could be a great role for her to play. She is 55 today and she is very fit and full of energy.

“I think she wants to do more and would happily step up to the plate and take over more duties if asked.

“Charles has to realise that you can slim down too much and they are running out of royals to do the nitty gritty work.

“Sophie would be perfect to take up some of the slack and I think she has the potential to be a royal superstar given the chance.

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“If it was Sophie’s choice I think she would grab it with both hands.”

It comes as Sophie joined Prince William, Kate and other royals tonight at a Buckingham Palace reception for world leaders from Africa.

In a statement issued on Saturday, it was announced that the Sussexes will stop carrying out royal duties from the spring, no longer use their HRH titles and repay the taxpayers’ millions spent on Frogmore Cottage.

Critics have hit out at the couple for turning their backs on the monarchy to allow them to take on commercial ventures.

And questions have been raised about how Harry and Meghan will continue with their “Sussex Royal” brand when they stop being working royals.

Harry spoke out about his decision to leave royal life behind in a speech at a dinner for his charity Sentebale last night.

He sad: “What I want to make clear is we’re not walking away, and we certainly aren’t walking away from you.

“Our hope was to continue serving the Queen, the Commonwealth, and my military associations, but without public funding. Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible.

“I’ve accepted this, knowing that it doesn’t change who I am or how committed I am.

“But I hope that helps you understand what it had to come to, that I would step my family back from all I have ever known, to take a step forward into what I hope can be a more peaceful life.”

Harry carried out one of his last engagements today, meeting Boris Johnson and other world leaders attending the UK-Africa Investment Summit.

He is expected to join Meghan and their son Archie in Canada later this week.

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