Kate, the Princess of Wales could be given an ‘unprecedented’ new role by King Charles, as he looks to expand his Counsellors of State.
As King Charles prepares for his coronation(opens in new tab), royal sources have suggested that he’s planning to make some major changes to his group of trusted advisors and may even bring Kate Middleton into the fold. Counsellors of State have the authority to assist in matters of state if the monarch is out of the country or unwell.
Under her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth’s reign, the positions of Counsellors of State were held by Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew (as they were the most senior adults next in the line of succession.) Prince Philip also previously held one of the roles before his retirement in 2017.
📸 Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort with Their Royal Highnesses The Prince and Princess of Wales.
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) October 1, 2022
Taken at Buckingham Palace on 18th September by @ChrisJack_Getty . pic.twitter.com/heUi1C5E15
However, according to the Mirror, despite it being widely thought that Charles would strip Prince Andrew and Prince Harry of their positions – sources have confirmed that he will keep them on and also bring three more members in.
This list will now include the Queen Consort, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice, with Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Kate Middleton now also being considered.
A palace source told the publication, “No one will be excluded. The pool of Counsellors of State will be expanded, this is for purely practical reasons.
“As the King and Queen Consort are likely to be away, as could the Prince and Princess of Wales, it is only right this is attended to.”
Dr Craig Prescott, a constitutional expert at Bangor University also told the Mirror, “It makes perfect sense. It deals with the present problem in that there are not enough working royals to act as Counsellors of State. This is the simplest way of dealing with the problem.
“In that the legislation could specifically make Prince Edward and Princess Anne Counsellors of State, adding to those who are already there. Adding the Princess of Wales is unprecedented, but this also makes sense.”
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