King Charles urged to reconsider his plan after Princess Anne's absence exposed major flaw

King Charles urged to reconsider his plan after Princess Anne's absence exposed major flaw

WATCH NOW: King Charles urged to reconsider his plan

GB News
Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 04/07/2024

- 18:34

The Princess Royal previously criticised the concept of a 'slimmed-down monarchy'

King Charles has been urged to reconsider his plan by GB News's Royal Correspondent after Princess Anne's absence exposed a major flaw.

Cameron Walker spoke on this week's episode of The Royal Record podcast about the concept of a slimmed-down monarchy, and whether it is currently working.


GB News recently conducted a poll, asking members whether Princess Anne's absence has shown the Royal Family is "unprepared for a streamlined monarchy".

Speaking on The Royal Record, GB News's Digital Royal Editor Svar Nanan-Sen said: "62 per cent said yes, 32 per cent said no and two per cent said they did not know.

King Charles and Princess Anne

King urged to reconsider his plan after Anne's absence exposed major flaw

Getty

"That is an overwhelming majority that feels Princess Anne is currently playing a vital role within the Royal Family, that the monarchy isn't prepared for her absence, and maybe that there would still be a gap there with just the younger members of the Royal Family, plus King Charles and Queen Camilla."

Cameron added: "It's a very interesting poll. If you remember, it was Princess Anne warning against a slimmed-down monarchy around the time of the Coronation during an interview with CBC in Canada, where she said the idea of a slimmed-down monarchy seemed like a much better idea a few years ago.

"We're talking an absence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who've obviously moved to California. And, of course, Prince Andrew has been forced to step back as a working member of the Royal Family.

"Then this year, they've had incredibly bad luck, the Royal Family, with various health matters.

Cameron Walker

Cameron Walker speaking on The Royal Record podcast from Edinburgh

GB News

"The Princess of Wales and the King were for a time out of action. Princess Anne, as you just said, with her horse-related accident.

"Then, of course, we had Sarah, Duchess of York also receiving treatment for cancer. So it's just been a catalogue of all kinds of health issues this year, and it has exposed that slimmed-down monarchy.

"What I've witnessed certainly over the last couple of days, is the family rallying around each other, with the King and Queen being supported by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

"He's been carrying out a lot of engagements, recently hosting the Garden Party, expecting to see them here today at St Giles' Cathedral as well.

Princess Anne

Princess Anne criticised the concept of a slimmed-down monarchy on CBC

CBC News

"Prince William stepped up a little bit, but at the same time, of course, he's been supporting his wife and three young children.

"What we're seeing, and what I've certainly known for the last couple of months, is the younger generations of the Royal Family are stepping in informally as and when they're needed.

"So for the garden party at Buckingham Palace, for example, when Prince William hosted the washout one where it was raining very heavily, we had Zara Tindall, Mike Tindall, and we also had Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

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Eugenie, Beatrice

Eugenie and Beatrice recently accompanied Prince William to a Buckingham Palace garden party in an informal capacity

PA

"All of them rallied around their cousin. So we saw that kind of thing going on. But whether or not this is a good thing, the slimmed-down monarchy, it's really up to King Charles if he wants to increase the number of working royals.

"I suspect is not going to happen because you need to be mindful of the burden on the taxpayer if there are more working members of the Royal Family.

"But I suppose never say never. It depends on how many more unfortunate royal accidents we're going to have."

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