Meet the Active Royals: King Charles III and Princess Alexandra Among Them
Discover the 11 active members of the royal family, including King Charles III and various cousins of the late Queen Elizabeth II
Who Are the Current Working Royals
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King Charles III had a goal to streamline the monarchy when he became king after Queen Elizabeth II passed away at the age of 96 in September 2022. This involved making the royal family more efficient and modern.
In January 2024, King Charles III and Princess Kate Middleton were both dealing with health issues, drawing attention to the importance of taking care of oneself, even for members of the royal family.
Prince William had to cancel a few events to help out with childcare while Kate was recovering from a procedure. It was then revealed that both Kate and Charles were dealing with cancer.
In an exclusive interview with royal expert Robert Hardman in January 2024, it was mentioned that Charles' plan for a smaller royal institution was proving to be a challenge for the family.
"It is a much smaller working unit than it used to be. Three of the main players are out of action at the moment," he mentioned, referring to Charles, Kate, and William.
There are indeed significantly fewer working royals than there were not so long ago. In the past five years alone, the firm has lost Prince Harry and Meghan Markle (they stepped down from their senior duties in 2020), Prince Phillip (he passed away at age 99 in 2021), Prince Andrew (he was stripped of his titles in 2022 after facing accusations of sexual assault, which he has denied), and the queen herself.
Keep scrolling for a current list of the working members of the British royal family:
Who Are the Current Working Royals
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King Charles III
Charles became king after Elizabeth’s death. In March 2024, he resumed his royal duties amid ongoing cancer treatments.
Who Are the Current Working Royals
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Queen Camilla
Camilla became the Duchess of Cornwall when she married Charles in 2005. After Elizabeth passed away, she became queen consort. The royal family's official website states that Camilla assists Charles in his royal responsibilities and is actively involved in various charitable organizations.
Who Are the Current Working Royals
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Prince William
William, the oldest son of Charles and the late Princess Diana, is next in line to become the king. He resides in Kensington Palace with his wife Kate and their three kids: Prince George, born in 2013, Princess Charlotte, born in 2015, and Prince Louis, born in 2018.
Who Are the Current Working Royals
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Princess Kate
Kate has been a working royal since marrying William in 2011. She supports various organizations, such as the Royal Foundation, with her charity work centered around early childhood care, addiction, and art.
In March 2024, Kate disclosed that she had been diagnosed with cancer.
In January, I had a major abdominal surgery in London. Initially, it was believed that my condition was not cancerous. The surgery went well, but tests later revealed the presence of cancer. In a video shared on social media, I mentioned that my medical team recommended preventative chemotherapy, which I have just begun.
The announcement followed weeks of rumors and viral conspiracy theories about my health and whereabouts.
Who Are the Current Working Royals
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Princess Anne
Princess Anne, the second child of Elizabeth and Phillip, is recognized for her strong work ethic within the royal family. She started her royal responsibilities at 18 and is dedicated to over 300 charities and organizations globally. Since 1970, she has served as the president of Save the Children UK.
Who Are the Current Working Royals
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Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh
In 2002, Edward, the youngest child of Elizabeth and Phillip, decided to leave his film production company, Ardent Productions, to focus on his royal duties as a full-time working member of the royal family.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which recognizes young people for completing a series of self-improvement exercises, has been a focus of his life and work.
Who Are the Current Working Royals
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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
Sophie married Edward in 1999 and became a full-time working royal in 2002. Much of her work focuses on equality for women and eliminating avoidable blindness.
Who Are the Current Working Royals
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Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
Richard is the cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth. His parents were Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, and Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester.
Formerly working as an architect, Richard decided to end his architectural career in 1972 following the death of his older brother, Prince William, in a flying competition. He then became the Duke of Gloucester after his father passed away in 1974.
Richard remains active in various organizations related to architecture and currently serves as the President of the Scottish Society of the Architect-Artists.
Who Are the Current Working Royals
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Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester
Birgitte and Richard tied the knot in 1972, just six weeks before Richard’s brother William passed away. Birgitte is dedicated to over 60 organizations, such as The Children’s Society, the Friends of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and Hope for Youth Northern Ireland.
Who Are the Current Working Royals
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Prince Edward, Duke of Kent
Edward, another cousin of Elizabeth, is the son of Prince George and Princess Marina. He became a working member of the royal family after retiring from the British Army in 1976.
Since 1969, Edward has served as President of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution and is dedicated to honoring the contributions of veterans.
Who Are the Current Working Royals
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Princess Alexandra, The Honorable Lady Ogilvy
Princess Alexandra is the sister of the Duke of Kent, making her a cousin of Queen Elizabeth. In 1957, she trained as a nurse at Great Ormond Street, and her passion for medicine shines through in her work. She serves as the joint president of Cancer Research UK, alongside her cousin, the Duke of Gloucester.
Editor's P/S:
The article highlights the current state of the British monarchy, which is facing challenges due to the health issues of several key members, including King Charles III and Princess Kate Middleton. The king's plan to streamline the institution is proving difficult due to the reduced number of working royals. In addition to the recent cancer diagnoses of Charles and Kate, the royal family has lost several members in recent years, including Prince Philip, Prince Andrew, and Queen Elizabeth II herself. The article provides a list of the current working members of the royal family, including Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Anne, Edward, Sophie, Richard, Birgitte, Edward, and Alexandra.
The article serves as a reminder of the importance of health and well-being, even for those in positions of power. It also sheds light on the ongoing changes within the monarchy, as Charles attempts to modernize the institution while facing the challenges of a smaller working unit. The article provides a glimpse into the personal lives of the royal family members and their commitment to public service, despite their own health struggles.
