A steady hand on the tiller as Charles vows to keep working
The King is keeping ‘a steady hand on the tiller’ as he bravely faces his cancer diagnosis head-on.
his Majesty is insisting on working throughout his treatment – although he has been reluctantly forced to cancel all forward-facing public engagements to minimise any possible health risks.
he will even continue to undertake his weekly meetings with the Prime Minister – possibly in person or more likely over the phone or via video link – and is looking at ways to commit to regular Privy Council meetings.
This is a formal body of advisers to the monarch made up of senior politicians who advise them on the exercise of the royal prerogative, the issuing of royal charters.
Significantly, royal aides have been at pains to point out throughout the King’s recent health issues – a point firmly re-emphasised last night – that he will not need to use Counsellors of State.
These are authorised to carry out the monarch’s official duties should they be incapacitated or abroad. historically, they are the sovereign’s spouse and the next four people in the line of succession who are over the age of 21.
Until recently the King’s were Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince harry, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice.
Amid concern that harry and
‘Wholly positive about treatment’
Andrew no longer undertake official royal duties and that the former doesn’t even live in the country, a change was made to the historic Regency Act of 1937 to include Prince edward, the Duke of edinburgh, and the Princess Royal, Princess Anne.
Some have described it as a ‘ fudge’, others as an ‘ elegant compromise’.
It is understood that the King was keen not to humiliate his brother or younger son further by formally removing them as possible counsellors, but has pushed them so far down the pecking order that, in reality, it is unlikely to ever be necessary.
And sources insist that in the current circumstances, it will not be necessary to do so – despite the King’s clearly serious health issues.
Buckingham Palace said of his Majesty: ‘he remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.’
The Palace is not giving a date for his return simply because all patients react differently to treatment and they do not want to cause public alarm should the King decide to postpone his public resumption of duties even by a few days.
And while cancelling all his public engagements, his Majesty is insisting on carrying on with his ‘red boxes’ of paperwork and may even conduct a small number of face-to-face private meetings, if doctors deem it is safe to do so.
‘It is very much business as usual in that respect,’ a source said.
Another well- placed insider added: ‘The King is a workaholic. That will never change.’ Other senior royals will continue with their long-planned programme of public engagements but may step in for the King from time to time if it is thought necessary.
The Mail understands that Princess Anne, for example, will conduct several extra investitures for her brother, handing out honours to worthy individuals. The earliest is likely to be today at Windsor Castle.
Anne, 73, is already one of the hardest working members of the Royal Family each year. Other members of the Royal Family stepping up to stand in for the sovereign in the coming weeks, include the Prince of Wales, who will return to duties tomorrow after his wife Kate’s medical issues.
It is likely that William will also undertake extra investitures.
There is, of course, the spectre of regency – whereby Prince William would step in for his father as head of stat. however, this is not something that is being considered at all.