The royal household has issued two health updates this week, leading many to wonder what changes we'll see in the weeks to come and whether other family members will be called upon to step in and lend a hand.
Talk has naturally turned to Prince Harry, with some royal watchers speculating as to whether the California-based royal could now fill in with upcoming official duties. Constitutionally speaking, however, it's not quite that simple.
Shortly after the public learned that Kate Middleton was recovering from abdominal surgery, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III will next week be undergoing a 'corrective procedure' to treat his enlarged prostate.
As with any medical procedure, both royals will require a period of rest. The Princess of Wales will spend the next 10 to 14 days at the world-renowned private hospital The London Clinic, before continuing her recovery at home. Kensington Palace has said she'll be stepping back from duties until after Easter, with husband Prince William also scaling back his commitments to concentrate on his wife's health.
King Charles will also be postponing his public engagements 'for a short period of recuperation', meaning three of the most senior royals will be keeping a low profile in the weeks to come. Speaking with the Mirror, a constitutional expert weighed in on whether we can expect a visit from Harry anytime soon.
In the event of illness or overseas travel, King Charles can turn to his counsellors of state - royal family members who can deputise for him. This includes wife Queen Camilla, followed by the four most senior adults in the order of succession – Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and Princess Beatrice.
Given that Harry and Andrew are no longer working members of the royal family, however, they'll be automatically ruled out. They also need to have a UK address - which Prince Harry does not have after losing Frogmore cottage. Last year, following major upheavals in the family, the Regency act of 1937 was amended to include Princess Anne and Prince Edward as counsellors of state, after they were previously ruled out due to the ever-growing line of succession. Both had held the role previously, before the family expanded.
Constitutional law expert Dr Craig Prescott, whose particular field of expertise includes the British monarchy, told the Mirror: "Two of those counsellors of state are needed. Ordinarily, you might expect Prince William to be one of those people, with someone else. Now we know that Prince William isn't around. We know that Prince Harry is in America. Prince Andrew doesn't do public duties, neither does Princess Beatrice, which is why they added Princess Anne and Prince Edward last year. And so if counsellors of state were needed, Princess Anne and Princess Edward would be able to act. Meghan has never been a counsellor of state."
Even if the act hadn't been changed, however, Dr Prescott believes that, given the Duke and Duchess now reside in the US, it's unlikely they'd have been able to fill in for Charles. He explained: "Generally with the duties we're talking about, you'll have to really be in the UK." It's believed the King will be getting back to his red boxes and state documents soon after surgery.
Dr Prescott continued: "The issue might be more things that require the monarch's presence, such as privy council meetings. In that case, you might expect councellors of state to act, but you have to be in the UK to do that. [Prince Harry] would be excluded from acting because he's overseas."
Accoring to Dr Prescott, there is a precedent for counsellors of state to step in during periods of illness. For example, when the late Queen Elizabeth II underwent knee surgery in 2003, other senior members of the Royal family stepped up to fulfill her duties.
