The sign King Charles isn't streamlining the monarchy yet despite recent rumors

The sign King Charles isn't streamlining the monarchy quite yet despite recent speculation about him desiring to reduce the number of working royals.  

• The King was joined by a member of the wider Royal Family as well as the Queen Consort and two of his siblings at a Buckingham Palace reception.  
• The attendance of the Duke of Gloucester could potentially suggest that the monarch isn’t looking to reduce the number of working royals.  
• This royal news comes as Meghan Markle revealed why Lilibet’s birth changed everything despite her already being a mom. 

Coming together on November 2, King Charles, Camilla, Queen Consort, and the monarch’s siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward reunited in public for the first time since they paid their respects at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in September. His Majesty and the Queen hosted hundreds of Olympic and Paralympic medal winners at Buckingham Palace for a special celebration that paid tribute to their astonishing achievements. 

But the couple weren’t only joined by the monarch’s brother and sister, with the attendance of another senior royal perhaps a sign King Charles isn’t “streamlining” the monarchy quite yet, despite speculation. 

Also appearing at the reception to celebrate the medal winners was a member of the extended Royal Family that many might recognize from his presence at many prominent engagements and occasions over the years - the Duke of Gloucester. Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester is the first cousin of Queen Elizabeth, with their late fathers being brothers. 

He regularly carried out engagements representing the monarchy during the Queen’s 70 year reign and the Duke was part of the procession on the day of the Queen’s funeral and committal service. 

The Duke of Gloucester being pictured alongside the King and his siblings and attending this major reception alongside them is a wonderful indication of how his dedication to royal duties has continued.

This could be seen as especially enlightening in light of reports in recent years and months that King Charles could reportedly be seeking to “streamline” the monarchy. 

Last year it was predicted that the then-Prince Charles hoped to “cut down” the Royal Family’s working members, with royal biographer Angela Levin previously telling talkRADIO that she believes he “wants change” whilst the late Queen wanted to keep the “outer edge” of the family together. 

Whilst The Telegraph suggested in September this year that there will be “fewer invitations” for “minor members” of the Royal Family, claiming the new King is gradually hoping to “make the institution leaner and cheaper for the taxpayer”.

The publication added that a source alleged, “You won’t see the balcony filled with publicly-funded members of the Royal family any more.”

The King himself hasn’t publicly discussed the suggestions that he might be looking to “streamline” the number of working royals though these rumors have continued to circulate. It’s also been suggested that His Majesty is also planning for an equally paired-back coronation. 

King Charles’ coronation day is May 6, 2023 and according to Royal Editor Russell Myers during an appearance on ITV’s Lorraine in October, the event could be scaled-down compared to the late Queen’s coronation.  

As per Express.co.uk, he claimed, “King Charles apparently wants a very streamlined coronation, potentially to do with the cost of living crisis.”

Exactly what the coronation will look like and what the Royal Family’s number of working members will be going forwards remains to be seen. Though the Duke of Gloucester’s recent appearance could be seen to suggest that the Queen’s cousins are currently continuing to support the monarchy as they have done for so many years.