A promising young member of the Royal Family may be reconsidering a working royal life because of the PR disasters surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, to the nation's loss. Chris Riches argues that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, despite not being working royals, act like they are and their repeated missteps could deter the next generation from service.
A Cautionary Example
Harry and Meghan have always aspired to be influencers, but they may have swayed one young woman away from royal duty. If a young member of the Royal Family were deciding on their path, they would likely look at the Sussexes and see one PR disaster after another. No-one can turn a home run into an own goal like Harry and Meghan, sparking trepidation and the question: "Is that chaos part and parcel of royal life?"
Real working royals like the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, or the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh would no doubt recommend their life of service as intensely rewarding. Prince William is known to be keen on streamlining the monarchy for his reign, but he will surely also want to enlist the help of the next generation.
Potential Losses
Zara and Mike Tindall will likely never become official working royals due to their commercial interests, though they may be asked to represent the Royal Family in the equestrian world. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are unlikely to be part of any new-look monarchy due to their names being mentioned in the Epstein Files and the crisis surrounding their parents.
It is a shame that the children of Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie are not now expected to follow in their footsteps. James, Earl of Wessex, 18, is studying at the Royal Agricultural University in Cirencester after completing his A-levels at Radley College, and is likely to go into farming. His older sister Lady Louise may be an even greater loss if she decides to pursue a life away from royal duty.
Lady Louise's Quiet Dedication
Lady Louise has been mastering new skills, reportedly working for weeks last summer cooking for guests renting lodges on King Charles' Scottish estate of Balmoral. "She's incredibly low-key and discreet. I only know because she cooked for a friend who rang me up [in surprise] to tell me about it," a source who's known her for many years claimed. "Louise is a really good cook - it's something she inherits from her mother. They do it together a lot."
Sophie said of her children: "We try to bring them up with the understanding they are very likely to have to work for a living. Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles." Both were given the choice whether to use their HRH titles when they turned 18, and both decided not to.
Lady Louise, 22, graduated from St Andrew University with a degree in English last July and is currently enjoying a gap year. She has also been one of the chief organisers of the Royal Windsor Horse Show. Last Christmas, she was spotted sat on the floor of a packed two-hour intercity train ride from London to Bristol, doing university work on her laptop after eschewing first class.
She would be a huge asset to Prince William if he can persuade her in the next few years to consider some royal role. We must hope he's as convincing with his positive view of a future Royal Family as Harry and Meghan have been damned negative.
