Queen’s workload continues to drop as royal engagement figures are released

The Times has published its annual letter from Tim O’Donovan detailing the number of engagements undertaken by members of the Royal Family in the past year.

In his annual survey of the Royal Family’s engagements, Mr O’Donovan noted, “After the busy Diamond Jubilee year it is not surprising that members of the Royal Family carried out fewer official duties in 2013.”

He went on to say, “I should emphasise that the table of figures, below, should not be converted into a “league table” of individual royal performance. All engagements differ as to time and content and there is also the time taken in preparation, whether it be a visit, investiture or speech.”

With the exception of her Diamond Jubilee year, The Queen’s engagements have been gradually reducing year on year, with other members of the Royal Family taking on more duties themselves in recent times.

In 2014, it is expected the Prince of Wales will take on even more of Her Majesty’s duties as the preparation for the transitions of reigns continues.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge should also begin to pick up their involvement with more engagements as the Duke has now left service in the Armed Forces to focus on royal engagements and charity work.

Mr O’Donovan, as ever, concluded his letter by saying, “Except for Christmas Day and Easter Day, the Queen never has a day off from the official red boxes which pursue her everywhere.”

The below table shows Royal Central’s collation of this year’s engagements and those from from several previous years for the purposes of comparison.

photo credit: West Midlands Police via photopin cc