Princess Anne (72) thinks a slimmed-down monarchy is “not a good idea”. That’s what King Charles III’s sister said. (74) a few days before his coronation in a rare TV interview with the Canadian broadcaster CBC. The idea came from a time “when a few more people were there,” says Anne. “I would say it doesn’t sound like a good idea from my point of view.”
In the years before Queen Elizabeth II (1926-2022) it was often said that high-ranking royals such as Charles and his wife Queen Camilla (75) or Princess Kate (41) and Prince William (40) should take on more public duties while other family members would resign from their duties. It has long been suspected that Charles would turn these plans into reality after his accession to the throne. In the meantime, however, this has sort of taken care of itself: Prince Andrew (63), Prince Harry (38) and Duchess Meghan (41), for example, are no longer part of the working royal family, with the death of Prince Philip (1921-2021) and the Queen lost two more.
Anne is also surprisingly open about whether the monarchy is still relevant today, especially in Commonwealth countries outside of the UK. “I think it’s absolutely right that there comes a moment when you have to have this discussion. I want to emphasize that constitutional monarchy offers a level of long-term stability that is actually difficult to achieve in any other way.”
On how her brother will fare as king, Princess Anne says: “You know what you’re going to get, after all he’s been practicing for a while and I don’t think he’s going to change.” Charles is the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history – he was four when his mother ascended the throne and was 73 when she died.
