Princess Beatrice is increasing her royal family duties as the monarchy deals with health crises, according to a source close to her mother, Sarah Ferguson. Beatrice will be stepping up her engagements and helping out the royal family in a bigger role. While she will not be standing in for Princess Kate Middleton, who has stepped back from public duties due to health reasons, Beatrice will be available to do more and support the family.
In March, Kate revealed that she was undergoing treatment for cancer, which kept her out of the public eye. During this time, Beatrice impressed King Charles III and Prince William, leading to plans for her to become a working royal. The King and William were pleased with Beatrice’s efforts and were happy to push her to the front to represent the family in public. While her new role is currently seen as unofficial, it could potentially become permanent in the future.
Although Beatrice, who is the eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Ferguson and ninth in line to the throne, is not currently a full-time working royal, the situation may change in the future. Charles had planned for a slimmed-down monarchy once he ascended to the throne, but with him and Kate not as visible in public lately, there may be a need for more members to take on royal duties. This could alter the intended structure of the monarchy going forward, as Russell, a royal historian, explained.
As Charles and Kate undergo treatment for their cancers, the responsibilities fall on his siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward, as well as his son William. Prince Andrew’s titles were removed after a scandal, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from royal duties in 2020. The current situation leaves the monarchy in a delicate position, with fewer members available to fulfill obligations such as attending events, overseas visits, and charity work. The sustainability of the monarchy may be at risk if the workload becomes too much for the remaining working royals.
The monarchy was never intended to reach the extent it has in terms of the number of engaged members, events, and obligations. The idea was to have a streamlined structure with a manageable number of working members. However, with Charles and Kate’s reduced visibility, the current setup may not be sustainable in the long run. It remains to be seen how the royal family will adapt to these changes and ensure that all duties are fulfilled adequately. Beatrice’s increased role could play a crucial part in maintaining the balance within the royal family.
