Prince Philip’s 992 patronages WON’T be passed down to Royals amid plans to ‘slim down’ monarchy, says Meghan’s pal
PRINCE Philip’s 992 patronages WON’T be passed down to other Royals amid plans to “slim down” the monarchy, Meghan Markle’s pal has claimed.
Finding Freedom author Omid Scobie said that many of the Duke of Edinburgh’s patronages could be retired as working royals take on more significant roles in fewer charities.
There are over 2,800 organisations in the UK which have a royal patron.
Prince Philip, who died earlier this month, was associated with 992 different organisations either as patron, president or honorary member.
These include Shakespeare’s Globe, the Scouts and the World Wildlife Fund.
As a result, his death leaves vacant a huge number of positions – though the royal biographer claimed it was unlikely that the roles would be passed on to other senior royals.
He told the Royally Obsessed podcast: “We often talk about the slimmed down future for The Firm but we don’t often talk about how that will affect the workload.
“The list of patronages that the Duke of Edinburgh has to his name is quite overwhelming to look at and I don’t think there is a system in place to properly distribute those to all Royal Family members or working royals.
“Because that covers a legacy of 65 years for the Duke so I think we’ll see many of them go into retirement.”
It follows reports that Prince Charles and his son William will discuss plans for a slimmed down monarchy following the Duke of Edinburgh’s death.
Charles and William, with the assistance of the Queen, will decide on which members of the family will retain senior royal roles and what they should do.
Charles’ youngest brother, Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex and his wife Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, are thought to be substitutes for Meghan and Harry after they officially stepped back from their royal roles last year.
Kate Middleton is also expected to “step up” in her royal duties following Philip’s death.
Royal commentator Phil Dampier told : “With the Queen now 95, Charles, Camilla and Anne in their seventies, a lot is resting on William and Kate.
“They have enjoyed long periods of family life in Norfolk, trying to give their children the most normal upbringing as possible.
“But now they will have to step up to the plate as a future king and queen and Kate looks ready to play her part.”
Meanwhile, it is claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could be sensationally “ditched” from the Royal family during a streamlining of the Monarchy.
Renowned royal biographer Angela Levin claims the Prince of Wales is poised to “cut the monarchy down” in the future to save cash.
The Mail Online reports a slimmed-down version could see just Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte as senior royals.