Changes to the Kensington Palace team, put in place before the King’s diagnosis, will give the Prince and Princess their own private secretaries, with a newly-created role of chief executive yet to be filled.
The Princess is recuperating from abdominal surgery and is not expected to return to work before Easter at the earliest.
Mr Patrick spent eight years in the Foreign Office and worked in international peacekeeping in Bosnia and Herzegovina for four years. He is a trustee of the charity Crohns and Colitis UK.
On Friday, the Royal family continued working out of the public eye. A source said the King “looks forward” to returning to full public duty as soon as he is able, with no plans to appoint counsellors of state – senior members of the Royal family authorised to carry out official duties – to perform any of his roles.
One constitutional expert described the formal plans to cope with the illness of any monarch as “bombproof”, with provisions under the Regency Act 1937 for all eventualities.
Those involved in any future application of the Act – the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice, the Master of the Rolls and the Speaker of the Commons – are understood to have been “reminded of their responsibilities” this week out of an abundance of caution.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
