THIN BLUE LINE
Prince William & Queen Camilla step up for the King at Commonwealth Day service as number of frontline royals dwindle
The King and Princess Kate both remain away from official duty due to health issues
THE Prince of Wales and Queen Camilla stepped up for King Charles at yesterday’s Commonwealth Day service — and highlighted the dwindling number of frontline royals.
Charles was forced to address the service via video message as he is having cancer treatment.
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And the Princess of Wales is still absent from royal duties while she recovers from abdominal surgery.
Her statement that she manipulated a family photo that was released on Mother’s Day overshadowed the annual event.
But husband William, 41, did not seem fazed as he arrived smiling at Westminster Abbey, where he was greeted by the Dean of Westminster David Hoyle.
Queen Camilla, 76, arrived shortly after and the pair shared a private giggle before leading the other remaining royals into the abbey.
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It was in stark contrast to the service four years ago when the late Queen led a host of senior royals including Charles, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan into the service.
Yesterday, William and Camilla appeared to put the chaos of the previous 24 hours behind them as they took their seats and applauded performances by artists from across the Commonwealth during the service — which had the theme of “resilience”.
They were joined by Edward and Sophie the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and the Duke of Kent. Despite Charles’ absence, he pledged to continue to serve the Commonwealth “to the best of my ability” in an address played to the congregation.
In the video message, which was recorded at Windsor Castle, His Majesty said: “Having recently celebrated my own 75th birthday, it warms my heart to reflect on the way the Commonwealth has been a constant throughout my own life — a precious source of strength, inspiration and pride.
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“In recent weeks, I have been most deeply touched by your wonderfully kind and thoughtful good wishes for my health and, in return, can only continue to serve you, to the best of my ability, throughout the Commonwealth.”
Since his cancer diagnosis was announced at the beginning of last month, the King has postponed all public-facing duties but continues with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers and holding some in-person meetings.
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Among the 2,000 guests at the Abbey was former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, 51. She clapped happily while watching dance and music group The Ghetto Kids perform.
Geri’s husband, Red Bull boss Christian Horner, remains mired in scandal after being accused of “inappropriate behaviour” by a female employee before the start of this year’s race season.
In recent weeks, I have been most deeply touched by your wonderfully kind and thoughtful good wishes for my health
King Charles
An investigation cleared Horner before he hit the headlines again when the alleged messages involved in the complaint were divulged to a number of media outlets and F1 figures.
Other guests at yesterday’s service included Foreign Secretary David Cameron, shadow deputy prime minister Angela Rayner and Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Scotland.
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Also there were the president of Malta, foreign ministers, high commissioners, senior politicians and dignitaries from across the Commonwealth, faith leaders and schoolchildren and young people from throughout the UK.
The performers included Calum Scott and Jacob Portelli and dance troupe Ghetto Kids from Kampala, Uganda. Ghetto Kids — finalists in 2023’s Britain’s Got Talent — are raising awareness through charity Malaria No More UK of the disease ravaging their homeland.
One of the dancers performing in front of Queen Camilla — a 14-year-old aptly named King — said: “Malaria is my worst enemy. It killed my best friend, Keli, three years ago. He was nine. I think about him all the time.”
Kate, 42, is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter. William temporarily stepped back from his royal role to juggle caring for her and their children.
He returned to royal duties last month. As well as yesterday’s Commonwealth Day service, William was at an engagement linked to his Earthshot environmental prize.
Earlier this month the Army was forced into an embarrassing about-turn after suggesting the Princess of Wales would attend Trooping the Colour on June 8.
Tickets were being sold for the event, with suggestions Kate would attend in her role as Colonel of the Irish Guards, the regiment that is trooping its colour this year.
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It is understood military chiefs did not seek approval from Kensington Palace before publishing the page and the website was subsequently updated to remove the reference to her.
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SLIMMED DOWN BUT HAS FAMILY LOST AURA?
Robert Jobson, Royal Biographer
HOW quickly the royal landscape has changed.
It seems a blink of an eye since the Commonwealth Day service on March 9, 2020.
Back then Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, resplendent in blue, led her family for the event at Westminster Abbey
Decked out in their finery, Charles — then her heir — sat alongside the monarch.
His wife, Camilla, accompanied him. Next to her were Prince William and Kate, then the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Behind them in the procession were the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
It was the first time Harry and Meghan had been reunited with the Royal Family since announcing they were stepping down as working royals.
That explains some of the strained expressions back then — particularly Harry’s.
Yesterday the number of senior front-line working royals was down significantly.
Her Majesty Queen Camilla — representing her husband, the King, and resplendent in blue like the late Queen — took the lead, alongside William, Prince of Wales.
It was a move that struck me as slightly bizarre — watching the future king steps behind his stepmother.
They were backed by Princess Anne, Edward and Sophie and stalwart, the Duke of Kent.
In the blink of an eye, it seems, the Queen has passed, the King is having cancer treatment and had to stay away, Kate is recuperating from surgery and Harry and Meghan have hot-footed it across the pond to start a new life.
The late Queen, who always wore distinct colours, used to say: “I’ve got to be seen to be believed.”
Now with the ever-decreasing number of working royals, something undoubtedly has been lost.
That sense of invincibility has perhaps gone forever after the deaths of the Queen and Prince Philip.
I understand why the King wants a slimmed-down or streamlined monarchy.
His reason is wise, and in tune with a modern world and financial expectations.
Cost to the taxpayer for one is something His Majesty is very conscious of.
He wants to offer his subjects value for money, too
At present, apart from security and travel costs, the institution is effectively funded by the ancient landed trusts — the Duchy of Lancaster for the King and Queen, and Duchy of Cornwall for William and his family.
It seems the King, who is carrying out his constitutional responsibilities while undergoing cancer treatment, isn’t going to back down.
There have been calls for Prince Andrew’s daughters Princesses Beatrice, 35, and Eugenie, 33, to join the Firm as working royals.
But the King is set on his path and I believe he will stick with it. The monarchy will just have to evolve with it.
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