King Charles has started the process of adding Princess Anne and Prince Edward to the list of royals who can represent the monarch in official capacities. Currently, Camilla, the Queen Consort, together with four other senior royals, serve as the “counsellors of state.
This quick action by Parliament is meant to solve a tricky constitutional issue
“Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, however, are two of them and are no longer eligible to serve as “working royals.” On Monday, the House of Lords heard a reading of the King’s desired modification. The Lords are anticipated to respond on Tuesday, and on that same day, the government may introduce legislation in the House of Commons, including a Counsellors of State Bill that would allow the King’s request for two additional working substitutes.
This quick action by Parliament is meant to solve a tricky constitutional issue regarding who could fill in for the King in the event that he was absent or ill and unable to perform his duties as head of state. Currently, two of the five individuals qualified to serve as counsellors are effectively disqualified. Following his affiliation with US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, resigned from his royal duties.
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, lives with his family in the United States and has stepped back from being a “working royal”.
The suggestion is to increase the number of eligible royals, rather than removing Prince Andrew and Prince Harry from the list of counsellors of state so that their availability would no longer be a concern.
The addition of the extra counsellors, would “ensure continuing efficiency of public business
Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, and Princess Anne, Princess Royal, were requested to be added as additional counsellors of state in a declaration from the King that was read out in the House of Lords by Lord Parker of Minsmere.
The addition of the extra counsellors, according to the statement, would “ensure continuing efficiency of public business when I’m unavailable, such as while I’m doing official activities overseas.”
The message was also carried to the House of Commons, where Penny Mordaunt, the leader of the chamber, informed the MPs that legislation will follow. This will need changing the Regency Act, which now states that counsellors must be the monarch’s spouse and the next four over-21 royals in line for the throne.
Princess Anne and Prince Edward served as counsellors of the state
The Queen Consort Camilla, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Princess Beatrice are the current advisors. Prior to being passed in the succession, both Princess Anne and Prince Edward served as counsellors of state.
Prior to being passed in the succession, both Princess Anne and Prince Edward served as counsellors of state. If the king is temporarily ill or away, counsellors can perform official tasks such as opening Parliament in state, signing documents, welcoming diplomats, or attending Privy Council meetings. The King and Queen, as well as the Prince and Princess of Wales, are anticipated to go abroad next year, so counsellors may be required while they are away.
A Labour peer named Viscount Stansgate questioned how Prince Andrew and Prince Harry could be two of the five replacements when one had “leave public life” and the other had “left the country” last month in the House of Lords.
