Princess Beatrice has surprising new role now that Charles is King

With the ascension of her uncle Charles to the throne, the elder daughter of Prince Andrew has a surprising new role.

An important new role has been created for Princess Beatrice now that her uncle Charles has become King of England.

Princess Beatrice is now the fourth in line of succession over the age of 21 following the death of her grandmother Queen Elizabeth II and becomes a Counsellor of State.

The means the elder daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson can step in and take on some of the responsibilities of the new monarch when needed.

Before Her Majesty’s death, Charles, Princes William and Harry and her father Prince Andrew all held the position and could perform the monarch’s duties temporarily if she was either absent due to travel abroad or unable to fulfil duties due to illness.

Princess Beatrice of York is stepping up in the royal family tree. Picture: AFP.

With Charles becoming monarch, Princess Beatrice moves into the fourth position on the list but it should be noted that Queen Camilla can also act in His Majesty’s absence.

If required, Princess Beatrice will be authorised to carry out most of the official duties of the sovereign.

According to the Royal Family website, this will include attending Privy Council meetings, signing routine documents and receiving the credentials of new ambassadors to the UK.

King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, view tributes outside Buckingham Palace on Friday. Picture: Getty.

Unless instructed by the King, Princess Beatrice will not be delegated Commonwealth matters and, so, will not have the power to create peers, appoint prime ministers or dissolve parliament.

Princess Beatrice, married to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, welcomed her first child Sienna last year.

Princess Beatrice and Edo Mapelli Mozzi at their wedding. Picture: Instagram.

A pregnant Princess Beatrice at Wimbledon in July 2021. Picture: WireImage.

Princess Beatrice and sister Princess Eugenie have enjoyed a close relationship with the Queen and, in 2017, Princess Beatrice described her grandmother as “inspiring” and “always curious” in an interview with Hello! magazine: “I find her inspiring every day because her overwhelming sense of duty is linked with an overwhelming curiosity,” she said.

Originally published as Princess Beatrice has surprising new role now that Charles is King