Is Prince Harry’s return to duty the only way to boost the roster of working royals? He and Meghan have their critics, but they’re the only younger family members cancer-stricken King Charles can call on with experience of public service

The dwindling number of royals who can carry out engagements has been thrown into sharp relief again as King Charles steps back from public duties while being treated for cancer.

While the Firm once boasted a bulging roster of royals to carry out engagements on behalf of the King, the numbers have shrunk in line with Charles’ vision for a ‘slimmed down the monarchy’ – on top of Prince Andrew being forced to step down and Harry and Meghan leaving for America. 

With the Prince and Princess of Wales also out of action while Kate recovers from surgery, the brunt of the work will be undertaken by Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and the Duchess of Edinburgh.

It begs the question of who can step in, and despite Harry and Meghan quitting as senior royals, they are the only available members of the family with any real experience of public duty.  

In the past, it’s been suggested that Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie could step up, but it would be a huge change of pace after only a small handful of official  engagements over the years, while popular Zara and Mike Tindall are busy with their business ventures, and have never carried out any kind of royal duties before. 

Could Prince Harry return for the royal fold? He is the only royal experienced enough for the job

The late Queen’s cousins, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra also do work on behalf of the King, but are all in their late seventies or eighties, meaning their workload is understandably reduced.

With the three most senior royals out of action, the remaining working royals have an average age of 75,  royal watchers are questioning who could be brought into the fold to step up – with various younger members looked upon.

Perhaps the most obvious choice is Prince Harry, 39, who has jetted back to the UK to see his father following his diagnosis.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, pictured, lack the experience to take on a frontline role

While popular and well-liked, Zara and Mike are busy with business commiments

While Harry and his wife Meghan are not working royals, after stepping down in 2020, Harry remains a counsellor of the state – meaning he can work on behalf of the King – and is fifth-in-line to the throne.

But the pair are seemingly very settled in California, where live in a £15million Montecito mansion with their two children.

Nonetheless, Harry and Meghan undoubtedly have the most experience in public facing roles, with Harry undertaking royal duties from the age of 21.  

Meghan made her first royal appearance with her husband in Nottingham in December 2017, meaning she had more than two years of roles in the Firm.

Prince Harry is believed to have taken off from LAX for London to be with King Charles after he was diagnosed with cancer – but Meghan, Archie and Lilibet are staying at home in California.

Harry’s father called him personally to tell him the devastating news and the Duke of Sussex has jumped on a plane so he could be in the UK later today.

A luxury Range Rover believed to be carrying the British royal was seen arriving at LAX’s VIP terminal last night and there are claims he boarded the earliest flight and could be in London by lunchtime.

His father is believed to be resting at Clarence House today, with Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi seen leaving this morning. It is not known if Harry will stay in central London to be close to the King or stay at Windsor, most likely at the empty Frogmore Cottage.

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle made a surprise appearance at the world premiere of Bob Marley: One Love last month

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: ‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue. The Royal family – including the Sussexes – it’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’.

Kristina Kyriacou, the King’s former press secretary, said today: ‘Charles adores Harry. He didn’t want any of this estrangement. If out of bad news, some good news comes and Harry and the King and the Queen and his brother are reunited – how wonderful.’

The feud between the royals is thawing, with Harry and Meghan said to be keen to get back into the royal fold – and with a  lack of options, Harry could step up to royal duty full time. 

Minor royals, who have helped out in previous years include Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, the daughters of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.

With their father out of the picture, a promotion for the sisters could be seen as an olive branch from Charles to his disgraced brother.  

In 2019, Eugenie joined the late Queen at the Royal Maundy service at Windsor Castle ‘s St George’s Chapel, and both the York sisters attended the King’s Coronation last year.

In December 2013, the two princesses made an official visit to Germany to promote the UK abroad, most notable for the suggestion they drove through a red light at the Brandenburg Gate in their Union Jack emblazoned Mini Cooper.

The trip was taken at the request of Number 10, and their travel expenses were paid for by Prince Andrew.

But with the Duke of York exiled from public duties, and both Princesses busy with their young families and jobs – Beatrice at Afiniti and Eugenie at the art gallery Hauser and Wirth – they haven’t been at the forefront.

The sisters have long been touted to  take a bigger role in the firm, but it has not yet come to fruition.

While they don’t have a huge amount of experience working for the Firm, they are both involved in a number of charities and have various public facing roles.

Andrew’s daughters, Princess Eugenie, left, and Princess Beatrice could be given more prominent roles

Princess Beatrice and Prince Andrew seem in good spirits at the wedding of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel in 2018

Royal experts previously speculated they could step up following Megxit, saying at the time that they are ‘what the firm needs’.

The pair are both young, aged 33 and 35, and could inject some freshness into the Firm, where the majority of the working royals are over 70.

Royal expert Richard Eden has previously said Harry and Andrew should  be stripped of their roles as counsellors of state – the title given to senior royals who can step in if the Monarch is seriously unwell – with the roles given to Beatrice and Eugenie instead.

Writing for Palace Confidential, the Daily Mail’s diary editor, said that Charles could ‘sugar the pill’ by giving more prominent roles to Andrew’s daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie – ‘who have never put a foot wrong’.

‘The revelations from court papers released in America may be largely known already but they nevertheless starkly highlight the Duke of York’s ill-advised friendships with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and jailed child sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell.

‘For the good of the Monarchy, King Charles needs to distance himself from his brother.

‘Unbelievably, Andrew remains a counsellor of state, just like his nephew Prince Harry.

‘This means that either of them could, in theory at least, be required to stand in for the King and carry out important duties in his absence.

‘The fact that this is even a possibility brings the Monarchy into disrepute.’

‘Andrew is a notoriously proud man, and there is one olive branch that he could be offered by the King that would help ease the blow of his humiliation.

‘His daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, could be given more prominent roles in the Royal Family.

Former England Rugby star Mike Tindall, 45, who is married to the King’s niece, Zara, was pictured affectionately ruffling ten-year-old Prince George’s hair after the service

Zara and Mike Tindall appeared in high spirits as they showed off their putting skills during the rugby ace’s star-studded charity golf day today

Princess Charlotte and Mia Tindall attend the Christmas church service at Sandringham

‘They have a great sense of duty, and have never put a foot wrong, so I’m sure they would be happy to carry out more royal duties for the King.

‘Andrew could take pride that the next generation was taking on his cherished former role as a working royal.’

It is also believed the late Queen  wanted her granddaughters tp attend more royal events and carry out more duties, a courtier told Richard Eden. 

The pair are both close with their uncle too.

Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi were seen leaving Clarence House in central London on Tuesday morning just hours after the King’s cancer diagnosis was announced.

The pair were seen departing Charles’ residence after an apparent visit but appeared to be smiling from behind the wheel of their vehicle.

While the obvious choice to fill these new gaps maybe Eugenie and Beatrice, who are both Princesses and 9th and 11th in line to the thrones respectively, perhaps Zara and Mike Tindall are better placed to take on engagements.

The couple, who live together on Princess Anne‘s Gatecombe Estate in Gloucestershire, already have a closeness with the Wales family, are very popular with the public and have been hailed by experts as bringing ‘a bit of normality’ to the royal family. But could they become working royals? 

The Prince and Princess of Wales are regularly photographed with smiles across their faces when Mike is around. Pictured: Harry, Mike, Kate, and William at a Easter Sunday Service in 2019 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joke with Zara and Mike at Royal Ascot in 2017. William is said to appreciate Zara’s more carefree approach to life

Both professional sportspeople, their recent trip to Australia, for the Magic Millions competition, saw them receive a hugely positive reception internationally. 

But while they are popular, the pair are both busy with business engagements, and may not want to sacrifice lucrative deals for royal duty.  

Despite being only 21st in line to the throne, and not having a title, Zara is the fourth most popular living royal, only behind William, Kate and Anne, while Beatrice and Eugenie rank 10th and 11th, according to YouGov. 

Eugenie also spends most of her time in Portugal, while Beatrice split her time between the US and UK.

Zara and Mike however have their feet firmly on British soil, with school age children and a jobs in the UK. 

Mike Tindall and Prince William demonstrate their close bond and share a warm hug at a charity polo match in 2017

Prince William and Mike Tindall have developed a close bond, with William living ‘vicariously’ through the former rugby union star. The pair are pictured above the Royal Ascot in 2019

Giles Kenningham, Founder of PR & Public Affairs Consultancy Trafalgar Strategy and former Number 10 Head of Press said that Zara and Mike are cementing themselves as the biggest earners in the royal family as Harry and Meghan have become ‘tarnished’.

‘Zara and Mike are sports stars in their own right so have more cachet than other members of the royal family,’ he told Femail.

They have both earned millions from sponsorship deals while staying close to the royal family. But is it perhaps time they traded in their deals for a role in the Firm.

Zara’s mother Princess Anne is often lauded as one of the hardest working royals, and it’s thought the couple could further warm to the public if they followed in her footsteps. 

‘They both have big followings, Mike with his podcast and Zara with her equestrian career so have more credibility than others,’ Giles added.

‘They’re often pictured out with their children and seem more like a normal family than a royal one, making them relatable and marketable.

‘Harry and Meghan have become somewhat tarnished which makes them the premier royal couple when it comes to deals’

The couple are also involved with charity work, a keen pillar for any working royal.

Mike has an annual charity fundraiser at The Belfry Golf Club in Sutton Coldfield which aims to raise money for Cure Parkinson’s and the Matt Hampson Foundation.

William and Mike, 45, are known to have a close relationship, perhaps especially since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s move to the US.