The Royal Family has been spread thin in recent weeks as the Princess of Wales and the Princess Royal have been out of action – but it appears future king Prince William has a plan
King Charles’ reign has been characterised by his ambition for a leaner monarchy, avoiding the past scenario of Buckingham Palace’s balcony being crowded with non-working royals and their families.
With the Princess of Wales and the Princess Royal unavailable, concerns arise over the workload of the remaining Royal Family members balancing engagements and charity work.
No plans to add more royals to ease the burden are expected to continue, a strategy former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond supports positively.
“I believe the streamlined Royal Family is the right model for the future,” Jennie told OK!, citing its alignment with most European monarchies and addressing taxpayer concerns.
“Adding new working royals to the payroll will only exacerbate that criticism. I think the model William has experimented with is the answer: drafting in his cousins here and there (e.g. garden parties) to spice things up a bit.”
“It makes such occasions even more special and allows those cousins to get on with their lives as they wish, without the strictures of the royal diary.”
“So I think the King and William are entirely right to be determined to keep the core of working royals a small, tight unit that can be accountable to the public purse.”
Jennie’s insights follow the revelation that Prince William is set to continue his father’s vision of a pared-down monarchy.
Daily Mail’s Richard Eden highlighted the Prince’s intentions, revealing a source close to William said: “He told me: ‘When the older members of the family retire, His Royal Highness won’t be inviting anyone else to become working royals.”
Eden further shared: “It remains to be seen if he will even want his two younger children to be working royals,”.
With Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, being the only other Royal under 60, speculation suggests that by the time William takes the throne and Kate is crowned Queen, they might be the sole full-time royals.
“That is what William wants,” the insider asserted. “He sees the small European monarchies as the model for the future.”
Princess Anne also weighed in on the debate about a more streamlined monarchy during an interview with CBC News, expressing her skepticism about its viability.
The Princess remarked: “Well, I think the ‘slimmed down’ was said in a day when there were a few more people around. It doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing, I would say. I’m not quite sure what else we can do.”
“Well, you know what you’re getting because he’s been practising for a bit, and I don’t think he’ll change,” she stated. “You know, he is committed to his own level of service, and that will remain true.”
As the Royal Family continues to navigate the absence of key members like the Princess of Wales and the Princess Royal, Prince William is stepping up to ensure a leaner and more efficient monarchy under King Charles’ reign.
Despite concerns over the workload of the remaining working royals, there are no plans to add more members to the fold. This strategy aligns with the vision of former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, who believes in a streamlined Royal Family model.
Jennie supports Prince William’s approach of occasionally including cousins in royal engagements, such as garden parties, to add variety without increasing the overall number of working royals. This allows the cousins to maintain their independence while still contributing to royal duties.
Moreover, there is a clear indication that Prince William intends to continue his father’s vision of a smaller monarchy. He is focused on maintaining a tight-knit group of working royals, with no plans to expand the roster in the future.
Speculation suggests that by the time Prince William ascends to the throne with Kate as Queen, they may be the sole full-time royals under 60 years old. This aligns with William’s preference for a model similar to small European monarchies.
Princess Anne, however, has expressed skepticism about the viability of a more streamlined monarchy. While she acknowledges the need for efficiency, she is uncertain about the practicality of further downsizing the Royal Family.
Regardless of differing opinions, it is clear that Prince William is committed to maintaining a lean and effective monarchy that is accountable to the public purse. As the future of the Royal Family unfolds, it will be interesting to see how this vision evolves under his leadership.
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Source: Tampa Bay Times
