Just recently, the royal family released a new photo featuring only four royals, Queen Elizabeth II and the three future kings Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George. Based on the caption, the photo is to mark the start of a new decade.
However, according to Express, the photo reflects Prince Charles’ desire to significantly slim down the monarchy. In the past years, the Prince of Wales didn’t hide his desire to pare down the monarchy by excluding Prince Andrew in some big events.
For instance, in 2012, only six members of the royal family stood on the palace balcony to watch the flypast as they celebrated the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The Queen was joined by Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke of Sussex.
The gathering was much smaller than the two-dozed strong crowd that filled the balcony 10 years ago to celebrate the Golden Jubilee. Prince Charles and Prince William also reportedly agreed to have Prince Andrew step down from his royal duties in the mid of the Epstein scandal.
It is likely that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will experience the same treatment as Prince Andrew. The publication noted that there has been evidence that the royals are trying to streamline.
In December, eagle-eyed royal fans also noticed that Prince Harry and Markle’s photos were not included in the collection of pictures on the monarch’s desk.
Queen Elizabeth II was photographed sitting behind her table with framed photos of her father King George VI, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, Prince Philip and a family photo of the Cambridges.
Royal expert Ingrid Seward was convinced that the absence of the Sussexes’ photo on the Queen’s frame during Her Majesty’s Christmas speech was indeed a sign of a “slimmed-down monarchy.” She also denied that the reason was due to the couple’s issues with the press.
“It does seem to represent the idea of a slimmed-down monarchy,” Seward said. “All the media problems with Harry and Meghan must have worried her. However, she would never be so underhand as to deliberately omit their picture.”
Prince Harry and Markle are in Canada for their vacation. Royal fans criticized the couple’s long break with some saying that they should not return to London.