They will still be able to stand in for the King but this happening is ‘highly unlikely’, a royal expert says (Picture: Getty Images)

Prince Andrew and Prince Harry will still be able to stand in for the King but appear to have been bumped down the pecking order in a royal revamp.

Charles III has announced he is extending the number of members of the Royal Family who can act as Counsellors of State and can fulfil certain official duties when he is unavailable.

His siblings Anne, Princess Royal, and Prince Edward will soon be able to deputise for the monarch if he is overseas on an official trip or ill, a signed message read to both the House of Lords and Commons today revealed.

They will join the Prince of Wales, Harry, Andrew and Princess Beatrice – the four most senior adults in the line of succession – as Counsellors of State, as determined in the Regency Acts 1937 to 1953.

Critics have argued Andrew should be stripped of the role after he stepped down from public life over his friendship with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein in 2019.

The Duke of York went on to pay millions to settle a civil sexual assault case after Epstein victim Virginia Giuffre alleged he sexually abused her when she was 17. He has repeatedly denied the accusations.

Other royal fans insist Harry should too lose his role after he stepped down as a working royal and moved to California.

While both remain Counsellors of State, royal experts say it seems ‘highly unlikely’ either would be called up to deputise in place of Anne, Edward, William or Beatrice.

Some have argued they should both lose their roles (Picture: Getty Images)

Joe Little, of Majesty magazine, told the PA news agency: ‘The counsellor of state situation should have been sorted out in the previous reign, but I can see why it wasn’t.

‘Her late Majesty, rather like her mother the Queen Mother, avoided family conflict whenever possible.

‘The steps the King is taking can hardly be perceived as a snub to the Dukes of York and Sussex because they remain in the equation and, in theory, could be called upon to fulfil the role at some point in the future.

‘That seems highly unlikely, however, particularly with Prince Andrew, who, if he has not already done so, should now regard himself as a permanently retired member of the Royal Family.’

It comes after Labour Peer Viscount Stansgate, the son of the late left-wing firebrand Tony Benn, recently questioned the list of four, given it included ‘one of whom has left public life and the other of whom has left the country’.

The Queen avoided making a decision on the situation but Charles has moved fast, after only two months on the throne.

It was first announced in a signed message read to the House of Lords by the Lord Chamberlain, Lord Parker of Minsmere, the most senior official in the royal household, on the King’s 74th birthday.

Charles wrote that the aim of the increase was to ‘ensure continued efficiency of public business when I am unavailable’.

Anne and Edward will support the King more in their new roles (Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images)

Independent crossbencher Lord Parker told peers: ‘The message is as follows: “To ensure continued efficiency of public business when I am unavailable such as while I am undertaking official duties overseas, I confirm that I would be most content, should Parliament see fit, for the number of people who may be called upon to act as Counsellors of State under the terms of the Regency Acts 1937 to 1953 to be increased to include my sister and brother – the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex and Forfar – both of whom have previously undertaken this role”.’

There were approving shouts of ‘hear, hear’ from the red benches at the end of the King’s message being read out.

Counsellors of State are authorised to carry out most of the official duties of the Sovereign like attending Privy Council meetings, signing routine documents and receiving the credentials of new ambassadors to the UK.

But certain core constitutional functions cannot be delegated, like appointing a prime minister or creating peers.

It is thought any changes to legislation to increase the number of counsellors would be completed later this year before the prospect of the King and Queen Consort going on overseas tours in 2023, which may coincide with the Prince and Princess of Wales also being out of the country.

Anne was previously a Counsellor of State between 1971, when she turned 21, and 2003, when she was replaced by William when he reached his 21st birthday.

Edward was a Counsellor between 1985, at the age of 21, until 2005 when his nephew Harry turned 21.

Buckingham Palace has declined to comment.

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They will still be able to stand in for the King but it’s ‘highly unlikely’, a royal expert says.