King asks Parliament to empower Anne and Edward to act as stand-ins
Harry and Andrew shut out by Charles’s request for only two siblings to be his Counsellors of State
THE KING has said he is “most content” for the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex to be made Counsellors of State as he enacted a process agreed with his late mother to keep the family peace.
In a statement read to both Houses of Parliament yesterday, the King signalled his wish for the Regency Act to be amended to allow his two siblings to deputise for him, should the need arise.
The move is designed to ensure the Duke of York and the Duke of Sussex will never be called upon to act as official stand-ins, without having to formally replace them.
It was devised with Queen Elizabeth before her death and is considered an “elegant” way of avoiding controversy. A source close to the Duke of York said he had been made aware of the development before his mother’s death.
The legislation will be changed through the Counsellors of State Bill, which is expected to be introduced to the House of Commons today.
The King’s statement was first read to the House of Lords by Lord Parker of Minsmere, the Lord Chamberlain, yesterday.
Speaking at the Dispatch Box, Lord Parker, a former head of MI5 who is the most senior official in the royal household, said he had the honour to present a message from the King “signed by his own hand”.
The independent crossbencher told peers: “The message is as follows: ‘To ensure continued efficiency of public business when I am unavailable, such as while I am undertaking official duties overseas, I confirm that I would be most content, should Parliament see fit, for the number of people who may be called upon to act as Counsellors of State under the terms of the Regency Acts 1937 to 1953 to be increased to include my sister and brother – the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex and Forfar – both of whom have previously undertaken this role.’”
There were approving shouts of “hear, hear” from the red benches.
The same message was later read out in the House of Commons by Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker.
Penny Mordaunt, Leader of the House, said MPS would be given the chance to consider a response to “His Majesty’s gracious message” ahead of a debate today.
She added: “It may also help if I inform the House that there will be legislation relating to this message for the House to consider in due course.
“Should the House agree to the humble
‘I would be most content for the Counsellors of State to include the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex’
address as first business tomorrow, that legislation will provide a proper opportunity to debate the matter that has been raised.”
The monarch can appoint two counsellors of state to conduct official business in their absence using letters patent.
Under the Regency Acts of 1937 and 1953, they are the spouse of a monarch and the next four in line to the throne who are aged over 21. This currently would include the Queen Consort, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of York and Princess Beatrice, only two of whom are working royals.
However, the incongruity of Princes Harry or Andrew being called upon to sign documents or receive the credentials of new ambassadors at Buckingham Palace has long raised eyebrows.
The issue was raised in Parliament for the first time last month, putting pressure on Buckingham Palace to act.
Labour peer Viscount Stansgate, son of party grandee Tony Benn, suggested in the House of Lords that it was the right moment to discuss “a sensible amendment” with the King.
He added: “Otherwise, are the Government happy to continue with a situation where the counsels of state and regency powers may be exercised by the Duke of York or the Duke of Sussex, one of whom has left public life and the other of whom has left the country?”
The King acted swiftly to ensure controversy would never arise, making the amendment to the law one of his first duties as monarch.
The move will effectively sideline the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of York without causing undue humiliation.
Meanwhile, the King has been appointed Ranger at Windsor Great Park. The announcement of the new role was revealed ahead of Charles’s 74th birthday yesterday.