Prince Edward’s children could help secure the future of the British Monarchy if they take up front-line royal duties, according to Richard Eden.
Writing in the latest edition of his Palace Confidential newsletter, Eden says that Lady Louise and James, Earl of Wessex could bring a much-needed burst of youth and energy to an ageing institution.
A perpetually ‘slimmed-down’ Monarchy, he suggests, would be doomed to fail.
Prince Edward with his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh at the Right Stuff Amateur Boxing Club on a visit to Staffordshire
Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, turns 60 on Sunday.
It is a milestone, yet the Duke remains one of the younger working royals and, with his popular wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, still carries a significant burden of official duties.
‘Never has his contribution to the Royal Family been more important,’ writes Eden.
‘Although way down the line of succession, in 14th place, the Duke of Edinburgh is busier, and more prominent, than ever as he carries out duties while his eldest brother, King Charles, is undergoing treatment for cancer.
‘Edward and his wife, Sophie, are often overlooked because they don’t seem to court attention from the media and appear happy to undertake their numerous royal engagements and foreign visits quietly and without fuss.’
Edward and Sophie embody some of the best attributes of his parents, the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, says Eden. They see public service as being the point of royalty.
He continues: ‘In my opinion, another great service the couple could do for the country would be to encourage their children, Lady Louise and James, the Earl of Wessex, to become working royals when the time is right.
‘Louise, 20, is in her second year at St Andrews University, while James, 16, will sit his GCSE exams this year.
‘When Prince William becomes King, I hope that he will follow the example of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and ask his cousins, including Louise and James, to share royal duties with him.
A smiling Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at last year’s Coronation
The Edinburghs are among the hardest working royals, often ‘beneath the radar’
Prince William’s cousins, James, far left, and Lady Louise, far right, at the Coronation
Lady Louise and her brother James could inject a bit of energy into the Royal family
‘Hopefully, William will realise that a ‘slimmed-down’ monarchy wouldn’t safeguard the institution, as some claim, but would lead to its irrelevance and eventual death.
‘What better way to build on its strengths than with an injection of energy from young people who have had values of public service and duty instilled in them from birth?’
- To read more of Richard’s expert royal commentary in his Palace Confidential newsletter, click here
