King Charles has long expressed a desire for a so-called “slimmed-down monarchy”—less of the packed Buckingham Palace balconies of the Elizabeth II era, and more of a streamlined core of working royals. Even before Charles took the throne in September 2022, the monarchy began to look slimmer: his younger brother, Prince Andrew, quit life as a senior royal long before he intended to after his association with Jeffrey Epstein and own allegations of sexual assault forced his hand; additionally, Charles’ younger son, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, voluntarily stepped back from working royal duties and relocated to the United States.
