King Charles is open to wider reform of the monarchy following the Andrew-Epstein scandal, but conservative forces within the palace may delay significant change until the next reign, royal sources have told The i Paper. Experts believe the number of working royals – currently 11, down from 15 a decade ago – could eventually fall to as few as four or five.
The King has already shown a willingness to act in a way that his mother never did: removing Andrew from royal duties, which the late Queen consistently refused to countenance. But whether he can overcome more traditionalist voices inside the palace, who see continuity as the monarchy’s defining purpose, remains uncertain. “I think the changes will come,” one royal source said, “but we may have to wait until William is King.”
The pressure for change centres on calls for fewer working royals, fewer family members with titles living in subsidised royal residences, fewer staff, and greater transparency. Craig Prescott, a constitutional expert at Royal Holloway, University of London, believes the headcount could eventually fall to as few as four or five – mirroring the Spanish monarchy’s structure. “You may have just King William, Queen Catherine and their children,” he said. “We could be faced with a very small monarchy in future.”
Royal biographer Robert Jobson said the Epstein crisis demanded a clean break with the past. “All of those further down the line of succession need to go,” he said. The palace typically manages change almost imperceptibly, consulting counterparts in other European monarchies, all of which have slimmed down over the past 25 years – most to around 10 working members, some to just the sovereign, consort and their children.
Canadian royal commentator Patricia Treble said she thought the Epstein scandal could speed up the process. “I do wonder about the palace taking a saw to the thicket of styles and titles enjoyed by private members of the family. That process may be accelerated.” Under Charles, attendance at most official events is already limited to working royals, and their number will reduce naturally as several of the late Queen’s elderly cousins move into retirement.
