Queen’s children help carry the load
The Queen’s children have shouldered the greatest burden of Royal duties this year, analysis of palace statistics has shown, as three generations of working royals settle in to their new responsibilities.
The Prince of Wales, Duke of York, Earl of Wessex and Princess Royal have undertaken official duties on a combined 675 days in 2018, significantly more than the younger generation.
Analysis of the Court Circular, the official list of royal engagements that are published in The Telegraph, shows that Princess Anne worked more than 180 separate days, making her the hardest-working member.
The Duke of Cambridge is recorded on at least 120 days, while the Duke of Sussex is down for just over 90. Both are understood to have done around 20 per cent more engagements than they did last year.
While the Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex provided much of the public face of the Royal family thanks to global press interest, their total recorded working days were 100, compared with the total 218 carried out by their husbands.
The analysis of how the Royal family is dividing its work is particularly striking thanks to the addition of the Duchess of Sussex, with the Queen now having two full generations of younger adults to help. While the Queen’s children – Princes Charles, Edward and Andrew and Princess Anne – still do many ‘‘traditional’’ duties, from plaque unveiling to community lunches, the younger family members have tended to swap that for fewer, more involved projects on key topics such as mental health.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s duties were reduced following the birth of Prince Louis in April, as she took maternity leave until September. And despite attending several events ahead of her wedding, the Duchess of Sussex was added to the Court Circular on May 19, meaning only seven months were counted.
Next year, the on-record work of both Duchesses is likely to increase significantly.
The Earl of Wessex did at least 170 days having taken on the role overseeing the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, visiting his patronages and supporting British sport.
The Prince of Wales performed more than 160 days of duties, increasingly stepping in to perform investitures and receive overseas visitors in support of the Queen.
The Duke of York worked more than 140 days, often promoting British businesses abroad and receiving dignitaries in London.
The Queen carried out more than 120 days.