Prince Harry, Prince Andrew snubbed as King Charles promotes Princess Anne, Prince Edward

King Charles has made a shock decision about the futures of Prince Harry and Prince Andrew in a major shake-up of the royal family.

King Charles has moved to add Princess Anne and Prince Edward to the list of royals who can stand in for him for official duties, while snubbing Prince Harry and Prince Andrew.

The royal family shake-up has seen the King widen a pool of “Counsellors of State”, who carry out constitutional roles when he is abroad or unwell.

They currently include Queen Consort Camilla and the first four adults in the line of succession – Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew and Princess Beatrice.

King Charles said the extension of the number of royals who can deputise for him was to “ensure the continued efficiency of public business when I am unavailable”.

Prince Andrew and Prince Harry have not been stripped of their roles. Picture: AFP

However, despite the promotions, there have been ongoing questions over the Duke of Sussex and Duke of York remaining in the pool of royals who can act on behalf of the King as they are no longer working members of the monarchy.

Writing to the House of Lords, King Charles said he would be “most content” if the number of Counsellors of State ”be increased to include my brother and sister, the Princess Royal and Earl of Wessex.”

“To ensure continued efficiency of public business when I‘m unavailable, such as while I’m undertaking official duties overseas,” the statement read.

“I confirm that I would be most content should Parliament see fit for the number of people who may be called upon to act as counsellors of State under the terms of the Regency acts 1937 to 1963 to be increased to include my sister and brother, the Princess Royal, and the Earl of Wessex and Forfar.

King Charles III, Camilla, Queen Consort, Princess Anne and Prince Edward. Picture: Chris Jackson

“Both of whom have previously undertaken this role.“

It was previously reported that King Charles was considering changing the law so counsellors of the state are only working members of the royal family.

Back in October, the House of Lords called for a “sensible amendment” because Prince Harry lives in California and Prince Andrew has been dispatched from public life under a sex abuse cloud.

Prince Andrew was stripped of his royal roles in February but has been a Counsellor of State since his 21st birthday in 1981 and Harry since September 2005, when he reached the same age.

King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort. Picture: Getty Images

Viscount Stansgate previously told the House of Lords there must be a change to the Regency Act now Charles is King.

“Otherwise, is the Government happy to continue with a situation where the counsels of state and regency powers may be exercised by the Duke of York or the Duke of Sussex, one of whom has left public life and the other of whom has left the country?,” he said.

“Is it not time for the Government to approach the King to see whether a sensible amendment can be made to this Act?”

Originally published as Prince Harry, Prince Andrew snubbed as King Charles promotes Princess Anne, Prince Edward