Princess Beatrice will reportedly be stepping up to help juggle the royal workload after the Princess of Wales and King Charles had to step back from their duties due to their health issues, a source has claimed.
On Wednesday both Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace announced that Princess Kate underwent abdominal surgery in London, while the King is scheduled for an enlarged prostate operation next week.
Both royals had to clear their diaries and while the King is said to be expected to work from hospital, the Princess of Wales is not expected to be back on her royal duties until after Easter.
Her husband, Prince William, has also postponed his royal engagements so he can be by his wife’s side and support their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Following the bombshell announcements, the Palace has been holding emergency meetings on how to handle the royal crisis, with Beatrice being told to “be on hand”, according to OK!.
In late 2022, Charles proposed that his siblings, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, be named additional Counsellors of State too. However, only working members of the Firm can act as Counsellors of State which rules Harry and Andrew out.
The source said: “Beatrice has been told to be on hand over the next few months in case there are any engagements she needs to attend. This is a role that she undertakes in an official capacity, not one that has been thought up at the last minute to fill a gap.”
They added: “There are only seven Counsellors of State and three of them are already out of commission.”
Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.
