A royal source told the Daily Mirror that Charles has “long been an advocate of a streamlined or slimmed down monarchy” which would be more “representative” in the modern world.
According to the Daily Express, whose readers largely backed the idea in a poll, the number of full-time working royals could be trimmed to as few as seven.
Working royals are paid using the revenue of the Duchy of Lancaster to represent the King for duties such as international and state engagements, and handing out honours. Charity events do not fall under the remit.
Camilla, William and Kate are surely indispensable to Charles as working royals, while Princess Anne as well as Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, are also frequently seen carrying out engagements.
Prince Richard and Birgitte – the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester – are also current working royals, but there is no confirmed list of others who work on a reduced basis.
In the view of Standard writer Ayesha Hazarika, what the royal family needs is to add to its working royals with two individuals who can connect with a new generation and shift in mood: Harry and Meghan. “They can reach legions of people that the new, slimmed-down ageing royal workhorses just can’t”, she writes.
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