Prince Andrew and Prince Harry’s royal counsellor roles challenged
Prince Andrew and Prince Harry’s counsellors of state roles have been challenged in the House of Lords.
Andrew and Harry are two of five “counsellors of state” – meaning they can carry out official duties and stand in for the King if the monarch is unwell or overseas.
Viscount Stansgate questioned their status when one had “left public life” and the other had “left the country”. He added that it was time for a “sensible amendment” to end this arrangement.
In response to questions from peers, the Lord Privy Seal, Lord True sid he would not comment on “specific circumstances” and says the Royal Household would need to be consulted about any change.
Lord peer Viscount Stansgate, son of Labour politician Tony Benn, said there was a real value in updating the Regency Act – to ensure there are royals available to stand in.
He called on the government to approach the King over changes to the current arrangements, now that Harry lives in the US and wouldn’t be able to quickly return in an emergency and Andrew is living out of the public eye and no longer carrying out royal duties following his Jeffery Epstein scandal.
Changes to the legislation would be the responsibility of the Cabinet Office and a spokeswoman referred back to the comments of the Lord Privy Seal.