Royals set to step up amid King and Kate health scares including 'secret weapon'

19 January 2024 , 11:55

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The King and Princess of Wales have both cancelled public duties (Image: PA)

After a turbulent few years for the Royal Family, working members of the Firm have quickly dwindled.

And with three more members of the senior ranks set to be out of action in the coming weeks, numbers are depleted. King Charles is due in hospital next week for corrective treatment for his benign condition and Prince William – the next in line to the throne – and the Princess of Wales are out of action for the immediate future as she recovers from abdominal surgery.

It means that Charles' slimmed-down monarchy – with three of the most senior royals missing – has been put under pressure in a way not seen before during his reign - and it will be left to the four major other royals to pick up the slack as Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and Prince Andrew are no longer involved in public royal life.

Kate is still in hospital - with Prince William cancelling public duties to be by her side (PA)

Of course, one of them is Charles' wife Queen Camilla, 76, who showed it is business as usual as she carried out an official engagement - a day after the news about her husband and Kate broke. Camilla was on a solo visit to Aberdeen Art Gallery, where she opened its new safe space, an initiative to provide help and guidance to people if they suspect someone is living with domestic abuse. She appeared cheery, adopting the keep calm and carry-on approach often associated with the late Queen.

While there, she asked about the King by the Lord Provost. Camilla replied: "He's fine, thank you very much. Looking forward to getting back to work." However, she reportedly cancelled her trip back to London in order to stay at King Charles's side as he awaits surgery next week.

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Queen Camilla during a visit to Aberdeen Art Gallery (PA)

The King, who is at his private home Birkhall in Aberdeenshire, is preparing for a corrective procedure after being diagnosed with a benign enlarged prostate. it is believed Camilla had been due to fly back to London - but according to The Sun, she cancelled the trip. Instead, she has reportedly gone back to Birkhall to be with Charles, who is said to be under doctor's orders not to undertake any strenuous activity.

Also steadying the ship will be Princess Anne, who is frequently named as the hardest-working royal. An analysis of the Court Circular, the official record of engagements and meetings, in 2023, showed she was the royal who carried out the most duties.

In November, her brother the King handed her a key role in his first State Opening of Parliament speech as monarch. In honour of her years of unwavering loyalty the Princess Royal featured in the procession as the prestigious “Gold-Stick-in-Waiting”, a position historically handed to a person entrusted with the personal safety of the monarch. Anne also acted out the role for the King's coronation back in May, riding on horseback as the monarch's personal bodyguard.

The Duchess of Edinburgh plays table football during her visit to Community Projects at Burwell Hall (UK Press via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, another royal who could be set to step up more is the Duchess of Edinburgh. Sophie, who celebrates her 59th birthday tomorrow, is often praised by courtiers for her work ethic and admire how she managed to carve out a niche for herself in the family business.

Often dubbed a "secret weapon", an aide once said: "Since she became a working member of the family she has worked tirelessly for each and every cause she is passionately involved in."

In total, she is patron of more than 70 charities and organisations, with interests including agriculture, fashion, supporting people with disabilities, and the prevention of avoidable blindness in developing countries. A source previously told the Mirror: "Sophie’s growing popularity with the public is also evident and she will take on a larger public profile in a new-look monarchy of King Charles."

King Charles with Princess Anne (Getty Images)

She will also be supported by her husband Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, who also travels to engagements up and down the country, particularly in support of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme.

Meanwhile, other working members of the Royal Family are the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, both in their late seventies, and the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra – with the latter two appearing increasingly frail in recent years and both in their 80s.

Joe Little, of Majesty magazine, said the health troubles have compounded the problem facing the small band of working royals. He said: "The working members of the royal family have been under pressure to maintain the level of engagements undertaken by a much larger team in years gone by. Suddenly removing three of the most senior players because of health issues compounds the problem considerably, but at least the King will be out of action for only a relatively short period."

Jennifer Newton