The news of King Charles’s cancer diagnosis has left many people questioning what is in place should the monarch need to take time out.
Now it has been revealed that as Prince William takes on more royal duties, a new member of staff could be on hand to help him.
The Prince of Wales is set to hire former diplomat Ian Patrick, who was made an MBE for work on international peacekeeping as his private secretary, reports The Telegraph.
Patrick has also worked for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and as a geopolitical consultant.
A private secretary provides support and liaises with various organisations outside of the palace. For example, the private secretary to the late Queen Elizabeth supported her in her role as Head of State and was a “channel of communication” between the monarch and the Government, according to the Royal Family website.
The changes to staff structure at Kensington Palace came before King Charles’s cancer diagnosis.
King Charles, however, has so far not stood back from any essential business of state – although some of his public engagements have had to be cancelled, postponed or rearranged.
Prince William stepped back into his royal work this week – performing an investiture and also giving a speech at the London Air Ambulance on Wednesday.
He left the audience at the London Air Ambulance gala laughing as he teased Tom Cruise’s helicopter scenes in Mission Impossible.
The American actor looked on as the Prince spoke at the event held at the Raffles hotel in central London.
Prince William began by thanking Tom for his support of the charity, saying: “I should also take this opportunity to give a mention to my – our – fellow pilot, Tom Cruise. Tom, huge thanks for supporting us tonight.
“And Tom if you wouldn’t mind not borrowing either of the new helicopters for the next Mission Impossible, it would be appreciated.”
“We have all seen on our screens that – how can I put it – you seem to have a different take on ‘normal wear and tear’ to the rest of us. It’s not the kind that buffs out.”
William seems to be referencing a scene in Tom’s film Mission: Impossible – Fallout where two helicopters crash into each other and burst into a ball of flames on a mountainside.
Prince William also thanked people for their support after the public announcements that both his wife Princess Kate and his father King Charles are both facing health challenges.
