Members of the Royal Family Forced to Take a Hiatus
Over the past few months, several members of British royalty have been forced to take a hiatus due to hospital procedures and illnesses.
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Princess Catherine underwent a serious abdominal surgery and will need several months to recover. Now, with King Charles and Sarah Ferguson’s cancer diagnosis, those available for royal duties have been greatly reduced.
Who's Left to Take on Duties?
With King Charles and Princess Catherine sidelined for the foreseeable future, Harry and Meghan’s move away from duties, and Prince Andrew’s shattered public image, the royal family has been stretched thin.
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The workhorse Princess Anne will undoubtedly pick up some of the slack. So will Prince William and Queen Camilla. However, others suggest it’s time to hand off more responsibility to younger members of the family, including the princess sisters Eugenie and Beatrice.
The Next Generation of the Royal Family
The royal family may also call on less senior members, such as Lady Louise Windsor and her mother, Sophie, to take on some extra duties.
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The daughters of the disgraced Prince Andrew, Beatrice and Eugenie, may also be called into action during this tumultuous period.
Fewer Young Royals Are Available
Speaking with The Daily Mail, Phil Dampier, a royal commentator, says that fewer young royals are available to pick up the extra duties.
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“All of a sudden, with these health problems we have, it’s looking very, very threadbare,” he said.
Lady Louise Windsor
The daughter of Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Lady Louise Windsor, is set to turn 21 in 2024.
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While she could help ease the pressure of duties, it’s unclear whether Beatrice and Eugenie will be called upon to assist.
Prince Andrew's Relationship with Epstein
Given their father’s close relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, it’s “more difficult” for his daughters to become involved with the royal family’s duties, according to Dampier.
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However, they could take on “minor roles,” which would help to ease the pressure on the other royals.
The Duchess of Edinburgh
Dampier believes Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, has been doing a “very good job” recently.
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The royal commentator believes Sophie could increase her workload and would like to see her “upping her game and doing a bit more.”
Calling Upon Lady Windsor to Step Up
Speaking on Sophie’s daughter, Louise, Dampier said, “I certainly think there could be a very good role for their daughter Louise Windsor, who has previously chosen not to take a title.”
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“Everyone who knows her says she’s extremely personable and very intelligent, and she would do a very, very good job,” he continued.
Pressure Building for William
Richard Fitzwilliam, another commentator, told The Daily Mail that the added pressure being placed on Prince William may start to affect him negatively.
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“It’s a tremendous pressure on Prince William as his father has cancer and his wife is recovering from abdominal surgery, and he will be expected to do more engagements,” he said.
Royals Are Humans Too
During his talk with The Daily Mail, Fitzwilliam tried to remind the public that the members of British royalty are humans like everyone else.
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“People forget that the royals are humans; in fact, they’re only too human, as we’ve just found out,” he said.
Eugenie and Beatrice Are Out of the Picture
Fitzwilliam went on to suggest that Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice are unlikely to be given any important duties due to their father’s association with Epstein.
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“This is a completely unprecedented situation where we are, and I don’t see any simple solution to it,” said Fitzwilliam.