Time for others to step up as Monarch winds down...

AS OUR much-loved Queen continues her role at the age of 96, her frailty means she is less able to perform some of the duties she has diligently undertaken throughout her long reign.

Taking a back seat will sadden her, as she has devoted her life to the monarchy.

She will fulfil her Coronation oath until the end but now has to give way while other family members take on some duties as she confronts the physical limitations of old age.

Her advisers know that she cannot stand for long. Hence the ending last week of her attendance at palace garden parties – something she much enjoyed as it brought her into contact with people from all walks of life in a less formal setting than organised visits. She will miss this connection with her subjects.

While we hope that she will attend the Platinum Jubilee events, inevitably we will see less of the Queen as time goes by. As heir, Charles will undertake many of her duties but we are unlikely to see a Regency unless Her Majesty becomes severely incapacitated.

Palace planning of a few years ago did not foresee the absence of both Andrew and Harry from the roster of working royals.

With them gone, the load falls on Charles, Camilla, William, Catherine, Edward, Sophie and

Anne, the current top team, who will be stretched unless various appointments, duties and patronages are dropped.

With Charles, Camilla and Anne in their 70s, they may find that ramping up their programmes becomes exacting, especially if lengthy travel is involved.

The Queen’s cousins – the Duke of Kent, 86, Princess Alexandra, 85, Prince Michael of Kent, 79, the Duke of Gloucester, 77 – all face scaling down duties with the advance of time.

So shouldn’t Charles revise his views on slimming down the monarchy and bring in younger people like Beatrice and Eugenie, who could be useful for social events like garden parties?

The sisters are not to blame for their parents’ scandals and seem keen to contribute to public life.

Eugenie is to be applauded for her mission to eradicate modern slavery through the Anti-slavery Collective.

Beatrice recently joined the Swedish royals for the World Dyslexia Assembly.

Anne’s son, Peter, and daughter, Zara, have never been classified as working royals but they could be occasional additions to the team.

If the monarchy is to continue, it will need to hold its place against a rising tide of republicanism.

Cutting out potential star players may not be the best way forward.