Is it time for Beatrice and Eugenie to up their game? Calls for fringe royals to rally around King and 'do a bit more' after Charles and Kate's health battles put them out of action - as experts say King's slimmed-down monarchy is 'looking very threadbare'

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It is time for minor royals to step up and rally around King Charles following his cancer diagnosis and the Princess of Wales’ health issues, experts have said, amid warnings the monarchy is looking ‘very threadbare’.

The departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the disgrace of Prince Andrew means there are not enough young royals to take on public duties and relieve the pressure on senior members of the family such as the Queen and Prince William, experts claim.

It comes after Buckingham Palace last night revealed King Charles has been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer and will be ceasing face-to-face royal engagements while he receives treatment.

It is now feared that unless less senior royals such as Lady Louise Windsor and her mother Sophie and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie step up, the royal family will not be able to hold as many events or support as many charities as they have previously.

King Charles’ health scare follows Kate Middleton being admitted to hospital in London for planned abdominal surgery, with Kensington Palace confirming she will not be able to return to royal duties until at least after Easter.

King Charles is seen for the first time since his cancer diagnosis was announced with his wife, Queen Camilla, on Tuesday as they headed to Sandringham

King Charles is seen for the first time since his cancer diagnosis was announced with his wife, Queen Camilla, on Tuesday as they headed to Sandringham

The Princess of Wales is currently recovering from abdominal surgery after being admitted to The London Clinic last month

The Princess of Wales is currently recovering from abdominal surgery after being admitted to The London Clinic last month

It has not been confirmed what type of cancer the King has been diagnosed with, or what stage it is, but it is understood not to be prostate cancer and to have been caught early.

Doctors noticed something amiss while Charles, 75, was in hospital for surgery on a benign enlarged prostate, triggering further examination.

‘All of a sudden with these health problems we have it’s looking very, very threadbare,’ royal commentator Phil Dampier told MailOnline.

With other working royals such as Queen Camilla and the Princess Royal being in their mid-70s, he fears there are few younger royals able to pick up the slack.

‘It’s all fallen really to a great extent to William and Kate and you do sometimes wonder if the stress of that knowledge and all the problems with Harry and Meghan have contributed to the pressure that Kate has felt under,’ he said.

Mr Dampier said that although Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie could be brought in ‘for minor duties’, their father Prince Andrew’s ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein make their involvement ‘more difficult’ for the family.

Instead, he praised the Duchess of Edinburgh Sophie for a doing a ‘very good job’, adding he would like to see her ‘upping her game and doing a bit more’.

‘I certainly think there could be a very good role for their daughter Louise Windsor, who has previously chosen not to take a title,’ he added.

The Duchess of Edinburgh and her daughter Lady Louise Windsor are among the royals who could step up to fill the gaps, Phil Dampier says

The Duchess of Edinburgh and her daughter Lady Louise Windsor are among the royals who could step up to fill the gaps, Phil Dampier says



Princess Beatrice (left) and Princess Eugenie (right) face a challenge increasing their role in public life due to their disgraced father Prince Andrew, experts have said

Princess Beatrice (left) and Princess Eugenie (right) face a challenge increasing their role in public life due to their disgraced father Prince Andrew, experts have said

‘Everyone who knows her says she’s extremely personable and very intelligent and she would do a very, very good job.’

Richard Fitzwilliam added that there is currently ‘tremendous pressure on Prince William’ as he highlighted the lack of royals able to take on extra work.

He said: ‘The dangers of a slimmed-down monarchy are obvious because of what we’ve just seen: Catherine won’t be doing anything until at least after Easter.

‘It’s a tremendous pressure on Prince William as his father has cancer and his wife is recovering from abdominal surgery, and he will be expected to do more engagements.

‘People forget that the royals are humans, in fact they’re only too human as we’ve just found out.’

He added that with Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice out of the picture due to their father being ‘in disgrace’, the baton would fall to the Wales’ children, George, Charlotte and Louis – who are all far too young to bear the weight of their parents’ of grandparents’ engagements.

‘This is a completely unprecedented situation where we are and I don’t see any simple solution to it,’ Mr Fitzwilliam concluded.

It is unknown how long King Charles will be forced to suspend public engagements, although it is believed he will continue working on all the duties he can.

The King will still be dealing with his red boxes of state business and official papers, and holding Privy Council meetings, which can be held via video, and weekly audiences with the Prime Minister, which can take place over the phone.

The next generation of royals after the Wales couple are still far too young to take on their parents' and grandparents' engagements (Pictured: Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at Kate's Christmas concert)

The next generation of royals after the Wales couple are still far too young to take on their parents’ and grandparents’ engagements (Pictured: Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at Kate’s Christmas concert)



Princess Anne put a brave face on her brother's diagnosis at an investiture ceremony on Tuesday morning

Princess Anne put a brave face on her brother’s diagnosis at an investiture ceremony on Tuesday morning

The King's slimmed-down monarchy is looking 'very threadbare' amid Charles' cancer diagnosis and the Princess of Wales ' health issues, experts have warned (King Charles pictured in Paris in September)

The King’s slimmed-down monarchy is looking ‘very threadbare’ amid Charles’ cancer diagnosis and the Princess of Wales ‘ health issues, experts have warned (King Charles pictured in Paris in September)

Cars believed to be carrying Prince Harry arrive at Clarence House on Tuesday afternoon

Cars believed to be carrying Prince Harry arrive at Clarence House on Tuesday afternoon

Charles personally called both Harry and William, as well as his siblings the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Duke of Edinburgh, to give them the news before it was publicly announced.

The Palace has called for the King’s privacy to be respected, especially during his treatment, but said he wanted to make his diagnosis public because of his long-running support for cancer charities.

This is the latest major royal health scare to hit the monarchy at the start of 2024, coming after the King’s hospital stay, Kate’s major surgery, keeping her away from official duties until after Easter, and Sarah, Duchess of York’s skin cancer diagnosis.

The King will remain an outpatient receiving regular cancer treatment for the forseeable future, although the details of his medical care are being kept under wraps.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement last night: ‘During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.

‘His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.

‘The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

‘His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.’

Charles had been admitted to hospital for surgery on January 26 for treatment on a benign enlarged prostate. He remained at The London Clinic for three nights before being discharged and returning home.

Since the news was made public, royals including Princess Beatrice have been spotted out and about, with the princess leaving her residence at St James’ Palace, next to her uncle’s at Clarence House, early this morning, before returning later in the day.

Prince William is under a great deal of pressure with both his father and wife seriously ill, experts told MailOnline

Prince William is under a great deal of pressure with both his father and wife seriously ill, experts told MailOnline



The monarch, 75, received treatment for an enlarged prostate last week, spending three nights at the London Clinic private hospital

The monarch, 75, received treatment for an enlarged prostate last week, spending three nights at the London Clinic private hospital

The King, pictured in France last September, will continue working behind the scenes on red boxes and constitutional duties, but public duties have been paused and will be shared amongst his family

The King, pictured in France last September, will continue working behind the scenes on red boxes and constitutional duties, but public duties have been paused and will be shared amongst his family

Meanwhile the Princess Royal held down the fort at Windsor Castle, where she carried out an investiture ceremony, before heading up to the midlands to visit a local community centre in Nottingham.

It came as Prince Harry was spotted arriving in London after clearing his schedule to rush over to the UK after his father phoned him with the news.

For now his wife Meghan Markle and the couple’s children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, remain in California.

It is unknown if he will meet with his brother the Prince of Wales, after their relationship reportedly dramatically deteriorated following the publication of Harry’s memoir Spare, and his Netflix series.

William is returning to official duties this week beginning with an investiture on Wednesday – the same day the King usually holds his weekly audience with the PM.

The heir to the throne is expected to also be undertaking some duties on his father’s behalf, but Counsellors of State, who are appointed temporarily when a monarch cannot fulfil their duties as head of state, are not expected to be needed.

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