Royal Family engagements halved since 2012 over plans to slim down monarchy

Royal Family engagements halved since 2012 over plans to slim down monarchy With the number of working royals decreasing in recent years, the number of official engagements undertaken on behalf of the Firm has drastically decreased The number of royal engagements undertaken each year has taken a drastic decrease in recent years, as the Firm ushered in the notion of a slimmed-down monarchy. Official records have revealed that working members of the royal household carried out 2,273 duties last year, showing a huge fall from the 4,127 recorded in 2012 - the busiest year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. Several factors have contributed to the lessened workload, including the number of working royals decreasing, and the recent health battles of both King Charles and the Princess of Wales, who each faced cancer diagnoses in 2024. Both Charles and Kate were forced to take a temporary step back from their engagements at the beginning of 2024 to undergo treatment, making a gradual return to their duties later that year. In addition to the health battles, Prince William and Princess Kate have taken a different approach to their royal roles, prioritising campaign-focused, long–term initiatives, while also focusing on being present for their three young children, George, Charlotte and Louis. William and Catherine spend around 16 weeks each year away from official duties during school holidays to be with their children, according to the Observer, contributing to fewer engagements throughout the year. Age has also played a part, as the Duke of Kent, 90, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who are 81 and 80 respectively, have dialled back their public appearances. The number of working royals decreased over 2020 and 2021, when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their royal roles and relocated to America. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was also forced to step back from his role after the allegations that he maintained a friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Palace aides have previously suggested that Charles and Camilla compare favourably with the late Queen and Prince Philip at similar stages of life, in relation to their yearly engagements. However, the King, 77, and Queen Camilla, 78, completed 708 official engagements last year. In comparison, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip managed 808 duties in 2003, when she was also 77, and he turned 82. The report on the engagement records comes after it was announced that the Sovereign Grant, funded by the taxpayer, is set to reach £100million from 2027, up from £31million in 2012, equivalent to £45.8million when adjusted for inflation.