Princess Anne (72)

Anne and Charles – born just 21 months apart – are said to be extremely close. She’s considered one of the hardest-working royals, and in recent times she’s taken on more duties as her mother’s health declined.

There’s been immense support for Anne to become a Counsellor of State. The Princess Royal is not permitted to be one because succession laws mean she’s only 19th in line to the throne. That’s why her disgraced brother Andrew and out-of-thefold nephew Harry can do it and she can’t.

“Many would say this is nuts, especially since the 2013 Succession to the Crown Act ended primogeniture, though only for those born after 2011,” says Robert Peston, political editor of British news channel ITV.

“So if King Charles were incapacitated Andrew would step in, not Anne. Do you think most British people would approve?”