Heir to the British throne Prince William is to shoulder more responsibilities as the public face of the UK monarchy in the absence of his father King Charles III.
The Prince of Wales returned to public duties on Wednesday, two days after it was announced that the king is undergoing treatment for cancer.
The prince carried out an investiture at Windsor Castle, in southern England, which is one of his regular duties, and will later attend the London Air Ambulance annual fund-raising gala in central London in his role as patron of the charity.
He presented more than 50 honours during the late morning ceremony, accidentally dropping a MBE medal he was giving to charity worker Suzanne Hutchinson
The prince quickly picked it up and pinned it to Ms Hutchinson, who was recognised for her services to children with congenital heart disease.
He was returning to official engagements three weeks after taking time off when his wife, Kate, Princess of Wales, underwent major abdominal surgery for an undisclosed condition.
The Princess of Wales, who was treated at the same hospital in central London and discharged the same day as the king, is expected to remain away from public duties until after Easter.
Their absence leaves Prince William, Queen Camilla and the Princess Royal, who carried out an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, holding the fort alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told The National the king’s illness exposes the “dangers” of slimming down a monarchy too much.
The British monarchy has lost key members in recent years after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and Meghan, stepped down from royal duties in early 2020.
Prince Andrew returned most of his titles and royal duties to the late queen, after facing a US civil sexual assault lawsuit, which he later paid millions to settle.
“It was never practical to slim [the monarchy] down too far,” Mr Fitzwilliams said.
“But remember what has happened with the Sussexes and with Andrew led to this. Some of this was not avoidable. Or at least you couldn’t plan in this way.
“This is all unprecedented”
Mr Fitzwilliams said there is nothing that can be done to immediately relieve the pressure on the family and its working members should not be slimmed down any further.
“Princess Anne already has a huge number of engagements.
“Prince William will undoubtedly be doing more. There’s no doubt about that. And also, there will be more pressure on the queen.
“She’s the king’s rock. They are soul mates. He will be very clearly reliant on her love and support.”
Mr Fitzwilliams said the family's spring and summer schedules will be very difficult to plan.
“Running a monarchy needs careful planning. And this is tricky, to put it mildly. It’s serious,” he added.
One silver lining to the king’s illness could be a reconciliation with Prince Harry, who has travelled to the UK from the US to see his father.
The king called both his sons to inform them of his condition ahead of the public announcement.
“We will have to wait and see, but obviously he’s very concerned and hopefully this will lead to some form of reconciliation,” said Mr Fitzwilliams.
“To what extent this occurs … these things take time. But there’s no doubt at all that in the circumstances, this may be a positive outcome.”
Prince Harry arrived in London from California on Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the announcement about the king’s health was made to the nation by Buckingham Palace.
However, their first face-to-face encounter for many months appeared to last for as little as 45 minutes before the king was flown by helicopter to Sandringham in Norfolk, east England.
Prince William is said to have grown closer to his father in the wake of his brother’s controversial interviews, documentary and memoir, which saw him launch a flurry of allegations at his family.
It is believed William and his brother will not meet during Harry's trip to London, with their long-running rift continuing.
As it stands there are no plans to appoint any Counsellors of State to act on behalf of Charles in his absence.
King Charles III through the years – in pictures
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A photo released by Buckingham Palace as they announced that King Charles III had been diagnosed with cancer. All Photos: Getty Images unless stated -
King Charles attends the Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in January -
King Charles and Queen Camilla leaving The London Clinic in January. The King had been receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate. -
King Charles delivers his Christmas message at Buckingham Palace in December 2023 -
King Charles delivers an address at the opening ceremony of the Cop28 Summit in December 2023 in Dubai -
King Charles and Prince William attend the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in November 2023 in London -
King Charles and Queen Camilla at the State Opening of Parliament in November 2023 -
King Charles waters and plants a tree watched by President of Kenya, William Ruto in October 2023 in Nairobi -
King Charles and US President Joe Biden review a guard of honour at Windsor Castle in July 2023 -
Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla during the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, in July 2023 -
King Charles and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, after his coronation. PA -
King Charles, carrying the Sovereign's Orb and Sceptre, leaves Westminster Abbey after the Coronation in May 2023. AFP -
King Charles III is crowned with St Edward's Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in May 2023. PA -
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, centre, with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender during the king's state visit in March 2023 -
King Charles and Camilla during a visit to the Bangladeshi community of Brick Lane, London, in February 2023 -
King Charles welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the leader of the Conservative Party to form a new government in October 2022 -
King Charles during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast at Windsor Castle in December 2022 -
King Charles follows the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as it is carried from Westminster Abbey after her state funeral. AP -
King Charles holds a vigil beside the coffin of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, as it lies in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall. PA -
King Charles greets members of the public as he walks by the gates of Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth. AP -
King Charles shakes hands with British Prime Minister Liz Truss during their first audience at Buckingham Palace -
King Charles III delivers his address to the nation and the Commonwealth from Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 -
Prince Charles with Camilla and Prince William during the ceremonial state opening of parliament at the Palace of Westminster in 2022 -
Prince Charles and Camilla on a visit to Giza in Egypt in 2021 -
Prince Charles joined members of the British Asian Trust for a short bicycle ride as they launched the charity's Palaces on Wheels cycling event at Highgrove in 2021 -
Prince Charles walks behind the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin during the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021 -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles during the state opening of parliament at the Palace of Westminster, London, in 2019 -
Prince Charles, Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry arrive for a Christmas Day church service on the Sandringham estate in December 2018 -
Prince Charles leads Meghan Markle up the aisle during her wedding to Prince Harry in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in 2018 -
Prince Charles and Camilla attend a dinner hosted by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, in Amsterdam in 2013 -
Prince Charles and Harry in front of an Apache helicopter at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, 2011 -
Queen Elizabeth presents Prince Charles with the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour at the Chelsea Flower Show, west London, in 2009 -
An official portrait to mark Prince Charles's 60th birthday in 2008 -
Prince Charles and his new bride Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle after their wedding in April 2005 -
Charles with his sons William and Harry on a ski break at Klosters in Switzerland in 2005 -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles in Avignon during a state visit to France in 1972 -
Prince Charles learns a soul dance routine at St George's Secondary School in Maida Vale, west London, in 1978 -
Prince Philip, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and Prince Charles follow the coffin of Princess Diana at her funeral in London in September 1997 -
Diana and Prince Charles pose with their sons, Princes William and Harry, on Prince William's first day at Eton College in 1995 -
Prince Charles and Diana on a visit to Nottingham in 1985 -
Diana and Prince Charles with Prince Harry leave St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, in 1984 -
Prince Charles and his wife Diana with their baby son, Prince William, at home in Kensington Palace in 1983 -
Prince Charles and Diana with son William in 1983 -
Prince Charles and Diana on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day in 1981 -
Prince Charles at a polo event in Windsor Great Park, accompanied by the queen and Prince Edward, in 1971 -
Prince Charles leaving Caernarfon Castle after his investiture as Prince of Wales, in Gwynedd, 1969 -
Prince Charles during a tour of Wales in 1969 -
Prince Charles playing cricket in 1968. He was playing for Lord Brabourne against a team of Grand Prix racing drivers. -
Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Windsor Great Park in 1968 -
Prince Charles at the University of Cambridge in 1967, where he was beginning his term at Trinity College -
Queen Elizabeth and her family travel to Sandringham in 1966. Prince Andrew is on her lap, the Duke of Edinburgh to her left with Princess Anne on his lap, and Prince Charles, right -
Prince Charles, walking a Corgi, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and their nanny Mabel Anderson at Euston Station, London, in 1963 -
US President Dwight D Eisenhower, centre, with the British royal family, left to right, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, at Balmoral Castle in 1959 -
Queen Elizabeth watches her son Prince Charles driving a toy car in the grounds of Balmoral Castle in 1952 -
A young Prince Charles is perched on the lap of his father the Duke of Edinburgh, while his mother Queen Elizabeth II looks on in the grounds of Windlesham Moor in 1949
Counsellors can be authorised by the monarch to carry out all but the sovereign's most key roles, such as appointing a new prime minister, and must be selected from Charles' spouse Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, Andrew's eldest daughter Princess Beatrice, Princess Anne and Prince Edward.
The “workaholic” king will carry on behind the scenes, dealing with the red boxes which contain his state business and official papers, say officials.
He will also hold his weekly audiences with the Prime Minister and monthly Privy Council meetings, which can both be done remotely.
The king and queen were expected to visit Canada in May, and Australia, New Zealand and Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October.
But the illness raises the prospect that Prince William may have to deputise for the king, who is head of the Commonwealth, at the meeting, just as Charles did for the late queen.
Other trips could be postponed, depending on how the king's health progresses.
Forthcoming events that could see William playing a key role include the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey at the start of March and the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June.
