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King Charles could strip Princes Harry and Andrew as official stand-ins in bid to slim down monarchy

King Charles plans to amend the law to prevent non-working royals from being counsellors of state in case he is indisposed

BY ANNA MATHEW

UPDATED SEP 19, 2022

King Charles to strip Prince Harry (L) and Prince Andrew (R) of their Royal titles (Jonathan Brady/Alexander Koerner/Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

LONDON, UK: King Charles is seeking to amend a law as to who can act as his official stand-in. In case such a decision is carried forward "Prince Harry, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice could be all stripped of their duties as official stand-ins for the sovereign, shall the King be indisposed,” said reports.

Despite not being working royals, the Duke of York, the Duke of Sussex and Princess Beatrice are currently considered three of the five Counsellors of State that the monarch can rely upon to carry out constitutional duties in case of illness or absence from the country. This is due to the Regency Act of 1937, the spouse of the monarch and the four adults aged over 21 who are next in line to the throne could automatically become Counsellors who can stand in for the sovereign to carry out official business.

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(L-R) Princess Beatrice, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Harry attend a lunch after the National Service of Thanksgiving as part of the 90th birthday celebrations for The Queen at The Guildhall on June 10, 2016 in London, England. — (L-R) Princess Beatrice, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Harry could be stripped off their Royal duties (Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The Regency Act includes duties such as attending Privy Council meetings, signing routine documents and receiving the credentials of new ambassadors to the UK. However, if such a law is amended the dukes and Princess Beatrice will be stripped of their titles and would no longer be considered as official stand-ins as King Charles only wants the working members of the royal family to be counselors in case King Charles is disinclined, reported The Daily Telegraph. During the reign of late monarch Queen Elizabeth II, those roles were filled by the former Prince of Wales - Charles, the current Prince of Wales - Prince William, Duke of Sussex Prince Harry and Duke of York Prince Andrew and also the late Duke of Edinburgh and the Queen's husband - Prince Philip who died at the age of 99 in April 2021.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 14: King Charles III, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex
walk behind the coffin during the ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall on September 14, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. Queen Elizabeth II's coffin is taken in procession on a Gun Carriage of The King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall where she will lay in state until the early morning of her funeral. Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle in Scotland on September 8, 2022, and is succeeded by her eldest son, King Charles III. (Photo by Martin Meissner-WPA Pool/Getty Images) — (L-R) King Charles III, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York and Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex during the ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II from
Buckingham Palace to Westminster Hall (Martin Meissner-WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Nevertheless, if the law is implemented it would likely see King Charles' other two siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward, the two prominent working royals, being elevated to the position of Counsellors of the King and he is reported to act quickly in taking the relevant steps to have the law changed. Indeed in the past months, several commentators had urged Buckingham Palace to ask for a change in the law and relieve the non-working royals Prince Harry and Prince Andrew and his daughter Princess Beatrice of their Counsellor roles. Any such changes will have to be enacted by the Palace of Westminster informally known as the Houses of Parliament.