KING Charles has begun the process of increasing the number of royals who can stand in for the monarch for official duties – proposing Princess Anne and Prince Edward as additions.
At present the ‘counsellors of state’ are Camilla, the Queen Consort, plus four other senior royals.
But two of these are Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, who are no longer available as “working royals”.
Counsellors are needed to deputise when the monarch is abroad or unwell.
The King’s formal request for the change – specifying Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, and Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, as extra substitutes – was read to the House of Lords on Monday.
