Prince Andrew has ‘no way back’ to royal duties despite King’s cancer diagnosis
Prince Andrew has “no way back” to royal duties despite his father King Charles stepping aside to undergo cancer treatment, a royal expert told i.
Charles has been diagnosed with cancer and will be stepping away from public duties for “regular” medical treatment, Buckingham Palace revealed last night.
The 75-year-old’s diagnosis has raised questions about how state visits are expected to unfold over the coming weeks and months, and who will step in for him when needed.
While Charles will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork, the Palace has said he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties for an undisclosed period of time.
Counsellors of State, senior royals chosen to stand-in for the monarch, can carry out duties such as attending Privy Council meetings, signing routine documents, and receiving the credentials of new ambassadors to the UK.
But experts have warned not all royals will be permitted step in for him, including Prince Andrew for whom there is “no way back,” and Prince Harry who is not expected to return “any time soon”.
Who will step in for King Charles?
Dr Craig Prescott, constitutional expert specialising in the monarchy and lecturer in Law at Royal Holloway, University of London, told i the heir to the throne traditionally steps in if the monarch is not available.
“This is usually the default position – and that’s what we saw with Charles when the Queen grew older,” Dr Prescott said.
However, Charles’s recent diagnosis comes at a time when heir to the throne Prince William is preoccupied with the health of Kate, Princess of Wales, who continues to recover at home after abdominal surgery last month.
According to the Palace, the other official Counsellors of State are Queen Camilla, Princess Beatrice, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew.
Dr Prescott said there is “no way back” for Andrew, despite his role as Counsellor of State. “Harry may return in the distant future, but not any time soon,” he added.
According to Dr Prescott, this could leave Camilla having to undertake many of King Charles’s public facing duties.
“This time, we have a Queen and a King,” he said.
“In March, Camilla may still attend [royal duties] on her own and not need Prince William, perhaps.
“But there will be a general rejigging of diary and making best use of who is available for public facing duties.”
This would still leave a gap in the royal household that may have to be filled by other less senior royals, while some state visits could be cancelled over the course of 2024, Dr Prescott added.
The pool of counsellors was unofficially expanded by Charles to include Princess Anne and Prince Edward, both of whom held the role years ago, before they were bumped down in the line of succession following the death of the Queen.
Last month, Princess Anne went on an official visit to Sri Lanka to mark 75 years of diplomatic relations between the UK and the south Asian island, while she also awards honours on behalf of the monarchy.
“I think more of a role for Anne, and in the longer term I could also see greater roles for Princess Beatrice and Eugenie.
“They already have some charitable patronages, and they could combine these roles with that of a working royal,” Dr Prescott said.
Will King Charles’s state visits this year go ahead?
Charles’s cancer diagnosis has cast doubt over his planned visit to Canada in May later this year.
This comes after many royal visits were cancelled due to Covid-19 and the Queen’s ill-health, meaning the monarchy has been less visible on the international stage in recent years.
“The planned visit to Canada is not going to happen. This is a big issue as the King has not yet visited the Commonwealth,” Dr Prescott said.
Later in 2024, Charles had also planned visit to other Commonwealth Nations including Australia, New Zealand and Samoa with Queen Camilla, which would have been the couple’s first visit since 2018.
“Prince William could attend if King Charles cannot, but this will of course depends on how well Catherine is.
“It could be an opportunity for William and Catherine – they are more popular in Australia than the King is so their attendance is not out of question,” said Dr Prescott.
“Samoa will also go ahead. The Palace could send Prince William to that, and while he is not necessarily intent on becoming head of Commonwealth, they will need someone who is heir to the throne present.”
