It's been over two years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they'd be stepping down from royal duties in January 2020, after which they left the UK.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have made their home in Santa Barbara, California since leaving their status as working royals behind, are currently in the UK to visit charities "close to their hearts" and possibly film their Netflix series as well.
Harry and Meghan are no longer working royals, but here are the members of the Royal Family who are full-time working royals and what exactly it means to be one.
What is a working royal?
A working royal is a member of the royal family who represents the Queen at official engagements.
While representing the Queen, working royals will often perform any duties needed such as:
- Meeting with international dignitaries
- Hosting official state dinners and other events
- Attending parliamentary and constitutional functions
- Handing out honours
- Carrying out international trips and tours
- Opening buildings
However, since all duties are performed on behalf of the Queen, doing them at events in the name of another charity or organisation doesn't count as a working royal's duty.
Being a working royal is a full-time job, which means that living costs, accommodation, and any expenses not covered by appropriate government departments will be covered by the Queen.
The seniority of a working royal will be negotiated between various government bodies, Buckingham Palace, ambassadors, or high commissioners in the overseas country.
This is to ensure that the person is capable and of appropriate standing to perform any task at hand.
The Queen pays working royals with the revenue of the Duchy of Lancaster, which is a private estate that has been part of the holdings of the monarch since Henry IV.
Who are the working royals today?
Going by the members who stood on the balcony during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, there are currently only 10 full-time working royals.
Here's who are they are:
The Queen
Her Majesty The Queen is obviously a working royal as she has been for a history-making 70 years.
After celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of her service this year, the 96-year-old monarch still continues to carry out her royal duties, despite some health concerns and mobility issues of late.
The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla
Prince Charles is the next-in-line to the throne and regularly represents the Queen in many of her official stately duties.
The Queen confirmed that the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla will be Queen Consort when husband Prince Charles ascends to the throne.
Camilla is also a working royal who carries out duties and attends royal engagements either with Charles or alone.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton
Prince William is the second-in-line to the throne after father Prince Charles.
As the future of the monarchy, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have begun to take on more royal duties on behalf of the Queen in recent years including the Caribbean tour, which ended up receiving lots of backlash.
Their children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, also joined them on the balcony.
The Princess Royal, Anne
The Queen's only daughter, Princess Anne, is one of the most hard-working royals, often topping the list of most official engagements carried out annually.
This year, Anne toured Australia and was even rumoured to become the first female head of the Marines.
Anne's husband Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, is not a working royal but he did join Anne on the balcony for Trooping the Colour.
The Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward and Sophie
The Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie are both working royals who regularly represent the Queen on several occasions.
Their children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn, are not working royals but they joined their parents on the balcony for Trooping the Colour.
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Prince Richard and Birgitte
Prince Richard who is the Queen's first cousin may be a lesser-known royal but he's been a full-time working member of the family for many years.
His wife Birgitte is also a working royal who attends both national and international events alongside her husband, in support of The Queen.
Who isn't a working royal?
Both Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, who are ninth and 10th in line to the throne are not classed as "senior working royals."
Both sisters have regular day jobs with Beatrice working as Vice President of Partnerships and Strategy at tech company Afiniti and Eugenie being director at a London art gallery.
The Queen's granddaughter Zara Tindall has had several ventures outside of being a member of the royal family.
In 2020, she and husband Mike Tindall announced a commercial sponsorship deal to become ambassadors for V-Health Passport, to track Covid immunity among athletes.
An accomplished equestrian and a silver medal winner at the London 2012 Olympics as part of the Great Britain Eventing team, Zara also became director at a Cheltenham racecourse in early 2020.
Some other royals like Princess Alexandra of Kent do carry out royal duties but do so on a reduced basis, so her exact working status is unknown.
