The Royal household has shared two health updates this week, leading to speculation about potential changes and if other family members might need to step in. Some are wondering if Prince Harry might take on some official duties. However, it’s not that straightforward.
After the news broke that Princess Kate is recovering from abdominal surgery, it was announced that King Charles will soon have a ‘corrective procedure’ for his enlarged prostate. Both royals will need time to rest.
The Princess of Wales will spend the next 10 to 14 days at The London Clinic, before continuing her recovery at home. She’ll be stepping back from duties until after Easter, with Prince William also reducing his commitments to focus on his wife’s health.
King Charles will also be postponing his public engagements ‘for a short period of recuperation’, meaning three of the most senior royals will be keeping a low profile in the weeks to come.
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If King Charles gets sick or goes abroad, he has special helpers called counsellors of state. These include Queen Camilla and the next four grown-ups in line to be king or queen that’s Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and Princess Beatrice.
But because Prince Harry and Prince Andrew don’t do Royal jobs now, they can’t help. Also, Prince Harry doesn’t have a house in the UK anymore. Last year, after some big changes, Princess Anne and Prince Edward were allowed to be counsellors of state too. They’ve done it before but were not allowed for a while because the family got bigger.
Dr Craig Prescott, who knows lots about the rules for kings and queens, told the Daily Mirror: “Two of those counsellors of state are needed. Ordinarily, you might expect Prince William to be one of those people, with someone else. Now we know that Prince William isn’t around.
“We know that Prince Harry is in America. Prince Andrew doesn’t do public duties, neither does Princess Beatrice, which is why they added Princess Anne and Prince Edward last year. And so if counsellors of state were needed, Princess Anne and Princess Edward would be able to act. Meghan has never been a counsellor of state.”
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Dr Prescott, however, thinks that even if the law hadn’t changed, it’s unlikely that the Duke and Duchess could have stepped in for Charles since they now live in the US. He said: “Generally with the duties we’re talking about, you’ll have to really be in the UK.” It’s expected that the King will return to his official duties soon after his operation.
Dr Prescott added: “The issue might be more things that require the monarch’s presence, such as privy council meetings. In that case, you might expect councellors of state to act, but you have to be in the UK to do that. [Prince Harry] would be excluded from acting because he’s overseas.”
According to Dr Prescott, there is a history of counsellors of state stepping in during times of illness. For instance, when Queen Elizabeth II had knee surgery in 2003, other senior royals took over her duties.
