Princess Anne and Prince Edward were discreetly granted more power by the King, according to reports.
In the Counsellors of State Act 2022, the King, 75, added the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh to the list of family members who can act for him when he is unwell or abroad.
This quietly prevented Prince Harry, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice from acting as substitutes for the King, it has been claimed.
These three royals are not working members of the Royal Family, and therefore are unlikely to be called upon as Counsellors of State, despite remaining on the list.
Princess Anne and Prince Edward discretely granted more power by King Charles
PA
During the second reading of the bill in the Lords, Lord True, the leader of the Lords, said that the royal household had confirmed that only “working members of the Royal Family will be called on to act as counsellors of state”.
This means that while the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of York and the Princess of York remain on the list of Counsellors of State, they cannot be called upon to act as a substitute for the King.
Counsellors of State are typically the spouse of the monarch plus the next four adults in line to the throne aged over 21, apart from an heir apparent who can act from the age of 18.
Those currently listed as eligible to serve as counsellors of state are the Queen, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, and the two new additions, Princess Anne and Prince Edward.
Princess Beatrice and Prince Harry are unlikely to be called upon as Counsellors of State
PAThe King added a special rule which meant Anne and Edward would be counsellors for the rest of their lives, unlike Harry, Andrew and Beatrice who will gradually be replaced when Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis come of age.
King Charles is likely more reliant on Princess Anne and Prince Edward than ever after his recent health concerns.
On Wednesday, it was announced the monarch would be soon seeking treatment for an enlarged prostate.
This means that the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal will likely have to up their workload over the next few weeks.
Prince Andrew stepped down as a working member of the Royal Family in 2019
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Prince Edward and his older sister are likely going to have to increase their workload
PADr Craig Prescott, a constitutional law lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London, told The Times: “The point of adding this statement that only working royals would called on to act as counsellors of state was a way of dealing with the situation in the simplest way possible.
"It might have been viewed as malice against Harry otherwise, so in many respects, it was the most elegant way to do it.”
The Palace has stated that the King will not need to appoint Counsellors of State to act for him while he undergoes a hospital procedure next week.
