Princess Anne: ‘Slimmed-down’ monarchy isn’t ‘a good idea’ after Megxit
Princess Anne disagrees with the idea that the royal family should trim the fat after losing a significant amount of members in recent years.
“I mean, it doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing,” the Princess Royal said in an interview with CBC News that aired Monday.
“I’d say I’m not sure quite what else we can do.”
Anne, 72, was referencing previous reports that her brother King Charles III — who will be coronated Saturday — once considered reducing the number of working royals due to financial concerns.
“I think the slimmed-down was said in a day when there were a few more people around,” she said while laughing. “[It] make that seem like it was a justifiable comment.”
Since 2020, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip have died, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have quit their duties and Prince Andrew has stepped back from making public appearances over his ties to late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
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Despite no longer being a working royal, Harry, 38, is set to attend his father’s coronation amid his strained relationship with his family, while Markle, 41, will stay home in California — as their son Prince Archie’s 4th birthday falls on the same day.
The Duke of Sussex is not expected to play an official role in the ceremony, but his brother, Prince William, will kneel and vow to serve their dad.
Charles, 74, will be crowned king in front of a star-studded guest list at Westminster Abbey alongside his wife, Queen Camilla.
“Well, you know what you’re getting because he’s been practicing for a bit,” Anne said in her new interview with a laugh. “And I don’t think he’ll change.”
The princess emphasized that her brother is “committed to his own level of service, and that will remain true.”
