05 March 2024 , 16:26
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It's been a challenging period for the Royal Family, with King Charles ' cancer diagnosis and the regular treatment he is undergoing keeping him away from "public-facing duties" at least for the time being.
The Royal Family has found itself short-staffed - with Kate also off work as she recovers from abdominal surgery until at least Easter. While, Queen Camilla, ploughed on with her own calendar of engagements, she has reportedly had to take a break this week. However, there may be another duty the Queen has to pick up soon - alongside Kate when she has finished her recovery.
The Mail reports that plans have been floated at the palace to give Queen Camilla and Kate a share of the responsibility of giving out honours, something that normally is done only by 'blood royals' like the King, Prince William, and Princess Anne.
The idea was first raised, the report claims, during the Covid-19 pandemic, when investitures had to be paused and a backlog grew, and now with the King following medical advice and away from duties like this, the question of its possibility has been discussed again at the palace.
A royal source was quoted as saying, "Queen Camilla has proved herself to be a really hard-working and dutiful spouse to the King, and who wouldn't want to be handed a gong by the Princess of Wales? There is a feeling that they have both earned it and it might prove a very popular change."
Baby boy has spent his life in hospital as doctors are 'scared' to discharge him
An Ipsos poll, reported in The Telegraph, saw the King, Kate and Camilla all rise in popularity by 3 points during the recent hospital stays of the two senior royals and Kate and William have been consistently some of the most popular figures in the House of Windsor in recent years.
Whilst King Charles has long been in favour of a slimmed-down monarchy - that is cost-effective for the taxpayer and more modern seemingly - similar to other European monarchies - in recent weeks it has appeared a little too thin on the ground, with the departure of Prince Harry and his wife Meghan back in 2020 never being factored into the long-planned move.
In desperate need of extra hands to pick up the slack, Prince Harry - it was reported in The Times - is even willing to temporarily return to conduct some duties, although sources close to Prince William have called this idea "laughable".
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