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  • Royal aides discussed the possibility of standing in for late Queen Elizabeth 

Plans allowing Queen Camilla and the Princess of Wales to hand out honours have been considered by Buckingham Palace in a bid to spread the load of royal duties in a slimmed-down monarchy.

Royal aides discussed the possibility of them standing in for the late Queen Elizabeth when she was still on the throne as the palace faced a huge backlog of investitures following the Covid pandemic.

Now there is speculation the ‘preliminary’ proposals – which in the end did not need to be invoked – could be revived given the King’s cancer diagnosis and the dwindling number of senior working royals.

Currently only ‘blood’ royals hand out gongs. This is limited to the King, the Prince of Wales and Princess Anne.

There was talk of Kate (pictured) and Camilla standing in for the late Queen Elizabeth II. Catherin Princess of Wales wearing the Mantle of the Royal Victorian Order

There was talk of Kate (pictured) and Camilla standing in for the late Queen Elizabeth II. Catherin Princess of Wales wearing the Mantle of the Royal Victorian Order

'Queen Camilla has proved herself to be a really hard-working and dutiful spouse to the King,' A source told the Mail. Pictured, Queen Camilla attends a dinner at Mansion House in honour of her and King Charles III's Coronation

‘Queen Camilla has proved herself to be a really hard-working and dutiful spouse to the King,’ A source told the Mail. Pictured, Queen Camilla attends a dinner at Mansion House in honour of her and King Charles III’s Coronation

While the present set-up is simply down to convention, some are asking whether it is time allow ‘fresh blood’ to lend a hand as part of a wider re-invention of royal duties.

‘Queen Camilla has proved herself to be a really hard-working and dutiful spouse to the King, and who wouldn’t want to be handed a gong by the Princess of Wales? There is a feeling that they have both earned it and it might prove a very popular change,’ a source revealed to the Mail.

While Charles has long been in favour of a ‘leaner’, more cost-effective monarchy, events of the last few years have overtaken him.

The loss of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh, Harry’s decision to quit royal duties and the stripping of the shamed Duke of York’s HRH status and royal role has left just seven main working royals – the King and Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and the new Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and Sophie.

The King’s diagnosis, which has forced him to step back from forward-facing public duties and Kate’s lengthy recovery after abdominal surgery last month has sparked concern over the viability of the current set-up.

There were further jitters this week when Prince William announced he was pulling out of a thanksgiving service for his late godfather, King Constantine, on Tuesday with less than an hour to go citing only a ‘personal matter’.

Currently only 'blood' royals hand out gongs. This is limited to the King (pictured), the Prince of Wales and Princess Anne. The King leaving Clarence House

Currently only ‘blood’ royals hand out gongs. This is limited to the King (pictured), the Prince of Wales and Princess Anne. The King leaving Clarence House

Sources close to the royals insisted it should be seen as ‘more of a bad week at the office than the decline of the House of Windsor’.

‘Granted some of the optics, especially on Tuesday, haven’t been great. There’s probably a salutary lesson in allowing others fill the silence for you,’ said one.

‘In the current climate Buckingham Palace has shown it is best to let people know what’s going on.’

The source added: ‘The important thing is how the institution organises itself moving forwards, and to do that with clarity.’ 

Which is why the idea of redistributing some of the royal workload appeals to many insiders.

Around 30 investitures are held yearly which see more than 2,600 honourees for personal achievement or bravery receive their insignia from a member of the Royal Family at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle, as well as in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

One source said: ‘There were preliminary discussions in the Jubilee year about increasing the number of senior royals who undertook investitures… that’s when they first looked at adding Camilla and Catherine.’ 

As to whether other royals should now be involved, they added: ‘For parity, all members of the Royal Family should do them.’

Others, however, are more sceptical, with one source saying: ‘In my opinion they should be performed by members of the Royal Family in direct line of succession.’

‘Increasing the number of senior royals’

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This post first appeared on Daily mail