'Most hardworking royal' Princess Anne finally gets her due after King Charles makes crucial announcement
LONDON, UK: King Charles had recently asked the British Parliament that his siblings be added to the list of those who were authorized to act in the King's place for official responsibilities. In addition to his brother, Prince Andrew, and son, Prince Harry, he will also add his sister, Princess Anne, and youngest brother, Prince Edward, to the roster of counselors. With this law, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II is finally getting the recognition she deserves.
The "slight" to the Duke of Sussex and the King's disgraced brother Andrew, which royal biographer Angela Levin called "necessary," will make it even less likely that they will be asked to fill in if the King is not available, reported Daily Mail. The most senior member of the royal household, the Lord Chamberlain, Andrew Parker of Minsmere, read the monarch's signed note to the House of Lords on Monday, November 14, to make the announcement.
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Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator, told MailOnline that the "important and long overdue reform" was "symbolically significant too that it has been announced on King Charles's Birthday." He said, "He has celebrated privately, but this is a very significant matter of public interest." In order to "ensure continued efficiency of public business when I am unavailable," according to Charles, the increase was necessary. The Duke of Sussex, who retired as a working royal and now resides in California, and the disgraced Duke of York, are two of the monarch's counselors of state, who can step in for him if he was ill or traveling abroad on official business. However, now that the Charles' two younger siblings were on the list, it was "clear that Prince Harry and Prince Andrew will never serve as Counsellors of State, if the monarch, the Queen Consort, or the Prince of Wales were unavailable," according to royal and legal expert Dr Craig Prescott.
Parker stated that he had the honor of delivering a message from the King that was "signed by his own hand" in the despatch box in the upper chamber. The independent crossbencher said to his peers, "'The message is as follows, 'To ensure continued efficiency of public business when I am unavailable such as while I am undertaking official duties overseas, I confirm that I would be most content, should Parliament see fit, for the number of people who may be called upon to act as Counsellors of State under the terms of the Regency Acts 1937 to 1953 to be increased to include my sister and brother - the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex and Forfar - both of whom have previously undertaken this role.'"
A legislative amendment to the Regency Act would be required in order for Anne and Edward to be appointed Counsellors of State. The monarch's spouse and the four people following them in the line of succession, who are over 21, were designated as Counsellors of State under the act, Sky News reported.