King Charles III Plans to Remove Prince Harry from Official Duty Amid Queen Elizabeth’s Funeral

In a significant move, King Charles III is reportedly seeking to amend the law so that his official stand-ins must be working members of the royal family.

Currently, the law allows the first four adults in the line of succession to serve as councillors of state when the monarch is unable to fulfill their duties as head of state.

This means that Prince Harry and Prince Andrew could potentially serve as Charles' stand-ins.

However, the king intends to change this arrangement, according to sources.

The 1937 Regency Act permits the spouse of the monarch and the four adults next in line to the throne to act as councillors of state if required.

While the deployment of councillors of state is rare, it has happened before.

In May, Queen Elizabeth II had Prince Charles and Prince William attend the state opening of Parliament on her behalf.

Prince Harry and Prince Andrew were also listed as possible councillors of state by the queen.

The current lineup of the first four adults in the line of succession consists of Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and Princess Beatrice, Andrew's daughter.

If the Regency Act remains unchanged, three non-working royals would be eligible as councillors of state.

Recognizing the incongruity of this situation, King Charles wishes to modify the law promptly to include his youngest brother, Prince Edward, and his sister, Princess Anne.

There is even a possibility that the king could propose allowing someone outside the line of succession, such as Kate Middleton, Prince William's wife, to serve as a councillor of state.

Any alteration to the law would require approval from the Houses of Parliament.

Historically, amendments proposed by the monarch have been presented by members of Parliament in response to a formal message from the monarch.

For instance, in 1953, Queen Elizabeth II proposed a change that would have made Prince Philip regent if a child of the queen ascended to the throne before reaching the age of 18.

The proposal was laid in Parliament as a new Regency Act by Sir David Maxwell Fyfe, who served as Home Secretary at the time.

Following Queen Elizabeth II's passing on September 8 at the age of 96, King Charles, 73, ascended to the throne.

Her funeral is scheduled for Monday, and preparations are underway.

Prince George, 9, and Princess Charlotte, 7, the eldest children of Prince William and Middleton, will walk in the procession immediately after their parents as the queen's casket is transported from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will follow behind them, while King Charles and Camilla, the queen consort, will lead the procession.

The funeral will take place at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle, commencing at 11 a.m. GMT (6 a.m. EST).

Ahead of the funeral, King Charles expressed his gratitude for the overwhelming support and condolences received from both the country and around the world.

He thanked all those who paid their respects to his late mother, the queen, in London, Edinburgh, Hillsborough, and Cardiff.

The king acknowledged the countless individuals who have provided support and comfort during this time of grief for his family.

Prince Harry, who has been deeply affected by his grandmother's passing, reportedly experienced further distress when the queen's ER initials were removed from his military uniform while he kept the royal cipher.

This change occurred as he maintained vigil by her coffin.

According to a source, the alteration to his uniform and the Buckingham Palace reception could make him feel excluded and as if most of the operation is against him.

A friend shared that he is heartbroken, emphasizing that removing his grandmother's initials feels deliberate and hurtful.

As the royal family prepares to bid their final farewell to Queen Elizabeth, emotions run high, and the dynamics within the family continue to evolve.

The proposed changes to the law regarding councillors of state reflect King Charles III's desire for a reshaping of the royal duties and responsibilities, ensuring that those who fulfill such roles are active members of the royal family.