Princess Anne reveals her views on King Charles’ plans for slimmed down monarchy
The Princess Royal has taken a thinly veiled swipe at her brother, King Charles, in a candid interview.
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The Princess Royal has taken a thinly veiled swipe at her brother in a new documentary.
The Queen’s only daughter, 72, who has a key role in her brother Charles’ Coronation on Saturday, defended the Royal Family in a refreshingly candid interview with Canada’s CBC News.
Since 2020, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have relinquished their roles as working royals and Prince Andrew was stripped of his HRH, patronages and military affiliations by his mother over his Jeffrey Epstein ties.
Before he became King, Charles was vocal about wanting a cheaper, scaled down, institution. But following the high-profile resignation of Prince Harry and Ms Markle, and the removal of Prince Andrew, there are now only 11 members of the working royal family that can partake in official state duties.
“Well, I think the ‘slimmed down’ was said in a day when there were a few more people around,” Princess Anne said.
“It doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing, I would say.
“I’m not quite sure what else we can do.”
Defending the role of the monarchy in modern times, especially with a new King officially taking the throne when he is crowned on Saturday, she added: “There will be [conversations about relevance] everywhere.
“It’s not a conversation that I would necessarily have. It’s perfectly true that there is a moment when you need to have that discussion but I would just underline that the monarchy provides, with the constitution, a degree of long-term stability that is actually quite hard to come by in any other way.”
The Princess Royal acknowledged that the monarchy’s relevance would be questioned in some quarters, despite a major poll revealing firm solid support for the family.
In supporting her brother’s new role as sovereign, she went on: “Well, you know what you’re getting because he’s been practising for a bit, and I don’t think he’ll change,” she said.
A major poll by former Conservative deputy chairman Lord Ashcroft showed Britain would unequivocally back the monarchy if a referendum were held.
ALBO EXTENDS OLIVE BRANCH TO KING CHARLES
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese invited King Charles III to Australia during a private audience at Buckingham Palace.
As the first realm leader granted a royal audience in the lead-up to the coronation, the Labor leader and staunch republican reiterated his open invitation to the British monarch and the royal family.
The olive branch to King Charles, from a prime minister committed to a referendum on the monarch’s removal as head of state, came amid an intimate and seemingly jovial discussion just days before the solemn coronation ceremony.
“It was a pleasure to meet King Charles III again at Buckingham Palace, and an honour to represent Australia at his Coronation,” Mr Albanese tweeted of their 30-minute meeting.
It’s the second time the King has held discussions with Mr Albanese, who arrived in London in a RAAF A330 plane on Tuesday morning local time.
AUSSIES WHO ARE CORONATION GUESTS
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived in London. He was one of the first world dignitaries to arrive in the United Kingdom for King Charles III’s Coronation.
Mr Albanese tweeted as he arrived at the Australian Commissioner’s residence, Stoke Lodge, “I’ve just arrived in London - a busy agenda in the United Kingdom.
“Ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and I will be meeting to further discussions on the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement.”
Mr Albanese, who in the lead up to Saturday’s crowning will visit an AUKUS submarine shipyard and meet British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, landed at London’s Stansted Airport tonight on an A330 Australian Air Force aircraft.
I've just arrived in London - a busy agenda in the United Kingdom.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) May 2, 2023
Ahead of the Coronation of King Charles III on Saturday, Prime Minister @RishiSunak and I will be meeting to further discussions on the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement. pic.twitter.com/FryHPAJ62u
Within hours of landing, the Prime Minister was preparing to meet the King on Tuesday for a private audience at Buckingham Palace.
The King and The Queen Consort last visited Australia in April 2018 as The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. The king himself has visited Australia 15 times and Her Majesty three times.
“The King is keen to cement ties with Australia and visit the country where he went to school as its new king and is keen to meet with Mr Albanese,” royal author and commentator Robert Jobson said.
Mr Albanese, a die-hard republican, says he will swear the oath of allegiance to King Charles Ill in Westminster Abbey. He pledged his commitment to the monarch to interviewer Piers Morgan on his show Piers Uncensored on Tuesday local time.
The Prime Minister will lead 14 Australian representatives at the Westminster Abbey service, which will also be attended by former foreign minister Julie Bishop.
The Prince’s Trust Australia chair will be joined by Tayla Green-Aldridge, 18, a Wiradjuriand Yuin woman and graduate of the trust’s ‘Get Into Maritime’ program.
Preparations for the Coronation are in overdrive, where on Tuesday a giant digital portrait of the King was unveiled.
The work, dubbed the Royally Big Portrait and to be auctioned by Christie’s, contains hundreds of thousands of individual images of the monarch drawn by members of the public.
“I think all portraits have been really, really unique and it shows the diversity of the children that have tried to take part in the exhibition,” head of creative at Outernet London, Alexandra Payne, said.
Meanwhile, new photos were released of the Royal School of Needlework’s embroidery team’s work on the King’s Robe of State, which he will wear on arrival at Westminster Abbey, along with his Robe of Estate, which he will wear on departure.
They were both used at his grandfather’s 1937 Coronation.
They are also creating a new Robe of Estate for Camilla, to be worn after she is crowned – she will wear the late Queen Elizabeth’s Robe of State to enter.
And the Palace revealed the King will reuse some historic items of clothing worn by previous monarchs on Saturday, “in the interests of sustainability and efficiency”.
They will include vestments from the Royal Collection which featured at the Coronations of King George IV in 1821, King George V in 1911, King George VI in 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II in 1953. Among them are the Colobium Sindonis, the Supertunica, the Imperial Mantle, the Coronation Sword Belt and the Coronation Glove.
And it has been confirmed one of the hardest-working royals, Princess Anne, will have a special role – on horseback leading 4000 armed services personnel behind the newly crowned King Charles and Queen Camilla in Saturday’s 2km procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace.
A royal expert yesterday dismissed Prince Harry’s role as that of “an extra” at the Coronation but said he would not likely be in military regalia, despite his years of proud service.
“Harry will be upset about that but after the publication of his book Spare, Harry will be an extra on what will be fabulous theatre, he won’t play a major role at the Coronation,” Richard Fitzwilliams said.
The prince has been reunited with his family in one sense: London’s famous Madame Tussauds waxwork museum has temporarily replaced his figurine with those of his family.
His wife Meghan Markle’s figure will remain with US celebrities in the “Awards Party Zone”, where the couple’s models were put when they stepped back from royal duties and moved to California.
UNUSUAL CORONATION CUSTOMS
See the video below to learn about some of the unusual Coronation customs.
EXPAT AUSSIES READY TO CELEBRATE
More than 85,000 Australians call the United Kingdom home. And, on Saturday, the expats will celebrate the making of a monarch in the most quintessential way – with VBs, Tim Tams and pavlova.
“Who doesn’t like a good excuse for a good party, the Coronation is as good as any,” Sydney-born graphic designer Jennifer Tims, 25, said
“The King is progressive and resonates better with younger people. Wouldn’t miss this party for the world.”
Australians are planning gatherings – including high teas – for the Coronation proper and Sunday’s Coronation Big Lunch, where neighbours and communities are invited to share food together.
Catch ups have been planned through Aussie WhatApp chat groups.
“Long live the King, I say, and here’s to Kate and Wills getting the job soon,” Ashleigh Hughes, 28, said.
“I’ve loved the royal family since I was a kid and so does my family.
“I’m excited to be part of British history and be able to watch the king of Australia get crowned while I’m in England.”
Georgia Benjamin, of Melbourne, will celebrate the once-in-a-lifetime ceremony at the Australian-run Daisy Green restaurant on the canal in Paddington.
“I love Camilla too, she’s had a bad rap, but she supports great causes and is dedicated to King Charles,” the 29-year-old said.
Prue Freeman will host an Aussie-style brunch at her London restaurant for royal fans.
“Aussies are quite romantic about the royals. Charles has lived in the Queen’s shadows for so long, so this is his moment and we’re backing him. We’ve got the pavlovas on the go, Tim Tams and the fizz,” she said.
Councils in England have approved 3087 road closures for gatherings marking the royal event, the equivalent of road space covering 430km.
Pubs are set to cash in also, with the British Beer and Pub Association declaring they anticipate pulling an estimated 62 million pints of beer with the coronation weekend expected to provide more than $200 million to the struggling pub industry.
Many Australians play crucial roles in the formalities of the coronation, including violin virtuoso Madeleine Easton, who will perform with the English Baroque Soloists and Monteverdi Choir under the direction of long-time mentor and patron Sir John Eliot Gardiner.
Easton, the founder of Bach Akademie Australia, will join them to keep arriving guests entertained during the pre-service performances and is “furiously” rehearsing her parts ahead of Saturday’s ceremony.
She crossed paths with then Prince Charles when she was based in London and invited to a fundraiser for the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra hosted by the classical music-loving Royal at Buckingham Palace.
“We had just performed a short concert for a fundraiser for the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra … that King Charles had very kindly facilitated, and we were all lined up to be introduced to Prince Charles, as he was then,” Easton said.
“When it got to my turn, Sir John Eliot said ‘Your Royal Highness, this is Doris’. I piped up and said ’No, I’m not! I’m Madeleine!’
“Doris is my nickname in the orchestra.
“So Prince Charles chuckles, and I say ‘I’m Madeleine, your Royal Highness, nice to meet you!’ Then I turn to Prince Charles, point to Sir John and say ‘but he has no idea what I call him!’. Then Sir John replies ‘Yes that’s what I’m afraid of!’. Prince Charles erupted in laughter.”
Another Aussie playing a critical role on Saturday is engineer Jim Frecklington – his is the Diamond Jubilee state coach that will carry the King and Queen to Westminster Abbey.
“I built the carriage for the late Queen Elizabeth II to commemorate the 60th anniversary of her reign in 2012. It will be the last time I see my palace on wheels taken out from the Royal Mews to convey the new monarch,” the 72-year-old, who is flying from Sydney to London this week, said.
“I’m in talks with the palace to attend Westminster Abbey, numbers are tight, but if there’s not enough room, I’ll be giving that carriage of mine and the sovereign a nod when they file past.”
Leading Mr Frecklington’s Gold State Coach from the Abbey back to Buckingham Palace will be 39 Australian soldiers, sailors and aviators of Australia’s Federation Guard – part of a 40-country-strong contingent, which staged a dramatic military drill this week.
Formed in 2000 for the centenary celebrations of Australia’s Federation, the guard has been practising their 108 beats to the minute march for six hours daily.
“We’ll be marching with a band a little slower than the 116 beats we normally march in Australia and it’s a little nerve wracking. I marched for the Platinum Jubilee and I’m extremely excited – my partner is from the UK and loves the royal family,” Squadron Leader Mitchell Brown said.
“It’s my first time marching in an event of this scale and historic significance, and I’m excited and nervous, but honoured to be representing Australia’s Federation Guard at the ceremony,” said Army corporal Mickey Eumile, 28, one of 11 women from Australia marching.
For his part, Royal Australian Navy petty officer William Garlic knows the drill, having marched at the Queen’s funeral eight months ago.
“That was a sombre occasion and this one will be a more joyous one,” he said.
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