King Charles's unwavering dedication to royal duty, even while undergoing cancer treatment, has drawn a stark contrast with his younger son Prince Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan Markle, who have produced little since quitting as working royals in 2020, according to columnist Eleanor Burleigh.
King Charles's Busy Schedule
On Monday, the 77-year-old monarch toured Europe's first eco-mosque in Cambridge and opened the new Whittle Laboratory, just hours after inviting Andy Burnham to form a new government at Buckingham Palace. Despite his packed schedule, Charles stopped to speak to a group of children holding flowers, who described him as "very nice and kind."
This work ethic echoes a famous pledge by his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who at age 21 vowed to "devote her whole life, whether it be long or short" to serving the nation. Burleigh argues that such sentiment is foreign to Harry and Meghan, who disavowed the monarchy and the notion of hard work when they stepped down in 2020.
Harry and Meghan's Limited Output
Since leaving the Firm, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have produced little beyond stalled ventures and cancelled media projects, despite pledging to become "financially independent" and pursue charitable endeavours. Harry recently referred to himself as a "full-time dad," a role that, while admirable, may give him too much time for fruitless legal action and family feuds.
Their quasi-royal tour of Australia earlier this year featured a much smaller itinerary than their 2018 post-marriage trip, which included 76 engagements over 16 days. In contrast, King Charles completed 532 engagements last year, the most of any royal family member, despite ongoing cancer treatments and his age.
Implications for a Return
Burleigh concludes that the couple's lack of industriousness makes any possibility of them returning to royal roles "laughable," as they simply would not measure up to the King's standards.
