Columnist Daniela Elser believes the Princess of Wales will be among the royals who are “paying the price” for much of the turmoil and change that has taken place at the firm in recent years, and much of the Duke’s work and the Duke must shoulder the Duchess of Sussex.
Commenting for the New Zealand Herald, the commentator said: “The loss of the Sussexes from the royal herd not only dealt a serious reputational blow to the royal family, but a real one.
“The patronages of the Duke and Duchesses and his military roles can be added to those Prince Andrew had to officially relinquish earlier this year, including such prestigious posts as Colonel in the Grenadier Guards. Again, consider the more than 50 organizations, including the Royal Ballet and the London Symphony Orchestra, that boasted the late Queen as their patroness.
“The question isn’t who will take over, but who will find time to take over?
“Today, almost two-thirds of the remaining working members of the Royal Family are over 70, with the remaining ‘staff’ being Edward and Sophie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex (58 and 57 respectively) and William and Kate, both 40.
“This aging, reduced-work royal family is expected to shoulder the same kind of workload — all the handshaking and planting memorial trees — as they always have.
“The bottom line is that the remaining HRHs are going to get thinner and thinner.”