It would seem that a high enough ranking in the line of succession isn’t enough to stop some people asking just who you are. As the House of Lords debated the Counsellors of State Bill this week, as it speeds its way through Parliament, one of those who can currently be called on to carry out the role was described as ‘’probably acceptable…but virtually unknown.’’
Princess Beatrice found herself going into the records of Hansard under that description as the Committee reading of the Bill took place. The Conservative peer, Lord Balfe, was raising a concern that the pool of potential Counsellors was rather small. He noted that it would only take a handful of people to be unavailable to take on the duty before ‘’ you have Princess Beatrice as a Counsellor of State.’’ He continued ‘’although she is probably acceptable, she is virtually unknown.’’
His comments came as the Bill to add the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex to the list of those who can take on the duty was debated at committee stage. The Bill has come about after a request from King Charles III to Parliament, on November 14th 2022, to include his sister and youngest brother among those allowed to be Counsellors of State.
Currently, the pool of potential Counsellors is governed by the Regency Act of 1937 which states that the Monarch’s spouse and the first four adults in the line of succession can take on the responsibility. Two must exercise the function at the same time.
The current list is Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of York and Princess Beatrice. With Prince Harry living overseas and Prince Andrew no longer having a public role following a court case which he settled out of court, there were concerns that the pool was too small. King Charles wants Princess Anne and Prince Edward to be added to widen it. The prospect of Princess Beatrice being called on as a Counsellor of State arose as those alterations were debated.
Other amendments discussed but rejected included allowing King Charles to name a Counsellor at his own discretion should one die and a plan for the Lord Chancellor to decide whether people on the list were working royals and, if not, exclude them from the duty.
The Bill has now been sent to the Commons where it will be further discussed.
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