Prince William,Princess Kateand King Charles are at the centre of a fresh warning about the monarchy's future in Britain, after royal historian Robert Hardman said in an interview published by The Telegraph on 19 April that the Prince and Princess of Wales could one day be left shouldering a far slimmer royal operation than the one previous generations inherited.
The concern did not appear out of nowhere. The monarchy has spent recent years dealing with reputational damage linked toPrince Andrew's association with the late paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, which Andrew has repeatedly denied involved any wrongdoing. At the same time, the pool of senior working royals has narrowed, leaving less room for the sort of well-upholstered public machine the family once relied on.
Queen Elizabeth II made a major slip-up when it came to handling Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. According to royal biographer Robert Hardman, the late leader of England had an exceptional 70-year reign, except for turning a blind eye to the former Duke...https://t.co/G1SyhVm1mG
Hardman's phrasing was striking because it cut through the pageantry and landed on something more prosaic but probably more important. 'I think it's a crying shame that when William takes the throne, he and Catherine are effectively looking at quite a significant spell on their own, carrying the whole show,' he said.
It is not a constitutional crisis. It is, however, a rather stark description of what a modern monarchy may look like when the crowds have gone home, and the diary starts filling up.
The supporting cast, in this telling, is dutiful but ageing. Hardman pointed to Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and to the Gloucesters as royals who have stepped up, while also noting that they will all be 'of a certain age' by the time William succeeds. He added that the Princess Royal is turning 76 this year, a reminder that some of the monarchy's most reliable workhorses cannot be expected to keep doing so forever.
The time when Andrew allegedly hit a member of Palace staff...Tune in to today's Daily T bonus episode where@CamillaTomineyis joined by The Telegraph's royal editor Hannah Furness and royal biographer Robert Hardman to discuss all things Royals, including the nature of the…pic.twitter.com/uLgury0m4o
That leaves William and Kate facing an uncomfortable arithmetic. A smaller monarchy may be cleaner, cheaper and easier to defend in theory, but it also means fewer hands to take on the endless round of patronages, visits and ceremonial obligations that keep the institution visible.
Hardman suggested William already understands that reality. 'We're all going to just have to accept things will be different,' he said, adding, 'We can't suddenly summon up extra royals.'
King Charles's coronation on 6 May 2023 was a historic moment for the UK and the Commonwealth, marking the first coronation of a new monarch in more than 70 years. It was also personally notable for Charles, who was 74 on the day and became the oldest monarch in British history to be crowned.
Source: International Business Times UK
