Pick your region
King Charles III is rumoured to make big changes cutting three royals out of official roles
Goss
Goss

King Charles III is rumoured to make big changes cutting three royals out of official roles

Who could be affected?
21 September 2022 3:16PM

King Charles might be making some big changes to Royal official laws that could affect Prince Harry, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice if he ever falls ill.

At this stage, according to The Telegraph, under the 1937 Regency Act, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and Princess Beatrice can all be "deployed as counsellors of state on official business.”

This is because they are the four adults who are next in line to the throne.

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - MAY 17: (NO PUBLICATION IN UK MEDIA FOR 28 DAYS) Prince Harry stands with cousin Princess Beatrice at the wedding of Peter Phillips to Autumn Kelly, at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 17, 2008 in Windsor, England. (Photo by POOL/Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images)

But, now that King Charles III has ascended the throne he wants to make changes to the Act so that all non-working royals will no longer be in line for Counsellors of State.

This means that Princes Harry, Andrew and Princess Beatrice will no longer be eligible, but Prince William, as the only working royal currently in line to the throne.

It is not confirmed when or if these changes will be made but it has been rumoured that the Kings other siblings Prince Edward (the Earl of Wessex) and Princess Anne (the Princess Royal) will fill these roles. 

WINDSOR, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Princess Anne, Princess Royal during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle on April 17, 2021 in Windsor, England. Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark was born 10 June 1921, in Greece. He served in the British Royal Navy and fought in WWII. He married the then Princess Elizabeth on 20 November 1947 and was created Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, and Baron Greenwich by King VI. He served as Prince Consort to Queen Elizabeth II until his death on April 9 2021, months short of his 100th birthday. His funeral takes place today at Windsor Castle with only 30 guests invited due to Coronavirus pandemic restrictions. (Photo by Chris Jackson/WPA Pool/Getty Images)

If the overruling of the act does occur, it's likely Prince William’s wife Kate Middleton could also find herself included in the eligibility.

However, occasions where Counsellors of State have to fill in aren’t all that common. In fact, only recently, the role was filled by Prince William and Charles himself, who stood in for the late Queen Elizabeth before her passing at the State Opening of Parliament back in May.