King Charles is not expected to need to rely on his Counsellors of State as he undergoes a “corrective procedure” for an enlarged prostate this week, but the news on January 17 that the King would be hospitalized for the treatment actually uncovered something interesting that everybody heretofore had missed. Charles’ younger brother, Prince Andrew, and youngest son, Prince Harry, were quietly removed as Counsellors of State on November 21, 2022, when it was revealed in the House of Lords that the Royal Household confirmed that, in practice, only “working members of the royal family will be called on to act of Counsellors of State.” The specific bill (Counsellors of State Bill 2022-23) became law in December 2022 and added Charles’ other two siblings, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, as Counsellors of State instead—an appointment that is for life, even if Charles dies before them and the Crown passes to Prince William. “The ‘working members’ stipulation largely flew under the radar—until now,” People reports.
