If there was any consolation for the King last night, it was the news that the Princess of Wales is reportedly “doing well” as she recovers from abdominal surgery.
However, his relief at his daughter-in-law's progress is tempered by the knowledge that he, too, will be hospitalized in a few days as he undergoes medical treatment for an enlarged prostate.
Normally, at such a moment, his son would be able to fill part of the royal void. But Prince William has understandably put the well-being of his wife and children first and postponed his official appointments.
That the three most important members of the royal family – Charles in his position as sovereign, William as heir to the throne and Kate as the monarchy's most likeable figure – are all simultaneously absent from the public stage is alarming enough.
What is far more striking, and should be of concern, is what these medical emergencies mean for the functioning of the House of Windsor when unforeseen setbacks strike. Last but not least, these health alarms have revealed the consequences of a slimmed-down monarchy. Even for a short time without such reliable figures, they reveal how empty the royal cupboard is.
Of course, Queen Camilla will remain calm and carry on, even if her thoughts are completely different. And Princess Anne, as always, is the safest person to have a safe pair of hands.
The three most important members of the royal family – Charles in his position as ruler, William as heir to the throne and Kate as the monarchy's most sympathetic figure – are all absent from the public stage at the same time
Princess Anne is, as always, the safest person, but she warned that streamlining the monarchy would not be a good idea
Perhaps even more telling is how quickly a problem can turn into a crisis.
For decades, the Royals calmly overcame many difficulties because there were enough of them to work with. If one family member were unwell, another would step in seamlessly.
But the turmoil of recent years, from Megxit to Prince Andrew's Epstein crisis to the death of Queen Elizabeth, has put the greatest strain on resources.
In private moments, Charles would certainly wish he still had Prince Harry's cinema draw in mind. The “old” Harry, the fun-loving prince who threw himself into royal duty with an enthusiasm and popularity that no other family member could surpass.
But that was before marriage, self-imposed exile to California and bitter estrangement from his own brother.
Combined with the forced exclusion of Prince Andrew as a working royal over the Jeffrey Epstein affair, the absence of Harry and Meghan has done more to slim down the monarchy than any kind of tinkering that Charles himself could have once imagined.
His 1990s dream was based on the belief that in order to survive (and remain relevant) in the long term, the royal family must be reduced to a core of the monarch and his (or her) immediate successors.
The peripheral figures that had for so long been part of the ritual of national celebrations and that adorned the balcony of Buckingham Palace simply disappeared.
And over the years, that's exactly what happened.
When the late queen celebrated her golden jubilee in 2002, the balcony was packed with royal hangers-on. Ten years later, on their diamond jubilee in 2012, the same balcony looked a bit barren. The handful who received the crowd's cheers were exactly what Charles had advocated: a core of royalty who represented the direct line of succession.
The same scenario repeated itself in the summer of 2022 on the occasion of Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, but while the number at her side increased due to the presence of William and Kate's children, the absence of Harry was notable.
Even Charles never imagined that this stripped-down vision would not include his younger son, his daughter-in-law, and their children Archie and Lilibet. That's why today the sudden – albeit temporary – removal of three key figures highlights the limitations of this new look for the royal family.
How prophetic Princess Anne's words now seem when she was asked ten months ago about the new king's plans to reduce the royal workforce. “I think ‘slimmed down’ was said at a time when there were a few more people,” she noted. “That doesn’t sound like a good idea.”
Charles' reasoning was based not only on the physical presence of a bloated family, but also on confronting the public perception that they were being kept afloat by taxpayers. He cares that the monarchy is viewed as inexpensive.
All this can only be achieved by reducing the actual activity of the institution.
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, has become a reliable and trustworthy member of the royal family for Charles, William and Kate
Queen Camilla will of course keep calm and carry on, but imagine if the alarm had sounded during a state visit when the King, William and Kate were starring
Years ago, Charles concluded that it was unrealistic for a smaller family of working royals to represent as many charities and other voluntary organizations as she was used to. With fewer royals, the number of official patronages that could be managed would have to be drastically cut. However, at the same time, he recognized that there should be no significant changes until he became king.
His intent has not diminished. Take the elevation of his brother Edward to Duke of Edinburgh. It was always Prince Philip's wish that his youngest son would one day attain his title, although it would be Charles' gift to make this possible.
But there was a twist in the story. The title did not automatically pass to Edward's own son James. By creating the duchy for a single generation, the king demonstrated how his vision of a streamlined royal family would work.
This week's events are testing strategy in ways that the courtiers may not have expected. It's fortunate, then, that these medical bombshells come at a time when royal duties are traditionally lighter.
Imagine if the alarm had occurred in the middle of a state visit in which both the King and William and Kate played central roles.
Despite these dramas, the public has every right to wonder how well Charles' little monarchy is coping. You may also be wondering whether the royals' extraordinary portfolio of homes may also need to be downsized.