King Charles Retains Prince Harry as Councillor of State Despite Eviction from UK Home

King Charles has made a bold decision to retain Prince Harry as one of his councillors of state, despite evicting him from his UK home.

This surprising move has left many constitutional experts puzzled and concerned about the implications it may have on the monarchy.

Dr John, Charles' deputy secretary, announced the King's verdict on Harry, stating that the Duke of Sussex is still considered an important member of the royal family, even though he is no longer a working royal.

As one of the King's councillors of state, Harry holds a significant role in the event of the monarch's absence or incapacity to rule.

This situation presents a unique challenge for the monarchy, as the requirement for a councillor of state is to have a UK residence.

The idea of a royal family member choosing to live a life away from their duties is unprecedented in the eyes of the law.

Dr Craig Prescott, an expert on constitutional law, expressed his belief that Buckingham Palace would be apprehensive about such a scenario.

Last year, the King had the opportunity to remove Harry from his position as a councillor of state through legislation.

However, he chose not to take that course of action.

According to the Times, this decision caused a dilemma within the palace walls, as it goes against the legal requirement for councillors of state to have a UK domicile.

The selection of councillors of state is determined by the Regency Act and cannot be unilaterally decided by the monarch.

Therefore, removing Harry from this position would require a legislative process to amend the Regency Act itself.

It would also involve a lengthy public debate about the criteria for eligibility.

To address this issue, the King appointed Dr John Surabji, a constitutional law professor, as his deputy private secretary.

Dr Surabji's expertise in legal matters, particularly regarding councillors of state, was sought to find the most appropriate and legally sound solution.

As a result, the King added Prince Hassan and Prince Edward as lifetime councillors of state, expanding the pool of available candidates and ensuring that Harry and his brother, Prince Andrew, will never be called upon.

The royal household has confirmed that working members of the royal family will be called upon to act as councillors of state when necessary.

Diaries will be arranged to accommodate this practical arrangement.

This means that Harry and Andrew will not be burdened with this responsibility.

There are those who advocate for more severe measures against Meghan and Harry, such as stripping them of their titles, excluding Harry as a councillor of state, and removing him from the line of succession.

However, these actions are not as simple as they may seem.

Parliament has set out specific reasons for caution, as it could lead to further complaints and scrutiny of the royal family's role and relevance.

In light of these considerations, King Charles has opted for minimal, elegant, and effective solutions.

By retaining the titles bestowed upon Meghan and Harry as a wedding gift, the royal family avoids potential complications.

Additionally, by diluting the pool of councillors of state, the likelihood of Harry needing to fulfill this role diminishes.

Furthermore, it is unlikely that all five individuals in line to succeed him will ever be called upon.

The King's approach aims to prevent any retaliatory actions that could escalate tensions with Harry and Meghan.

It also ensures that the focus remains on the monarchy's stability and continuity rather than engaging in unnecessary conflicts.