In a move that has sent ripples through the corridors of British royalty, King Charles is set to implement a significant overhaul of the royal household staff. This decision, backed by Queen Camilla, is seen as an effort to modernize the monarchy in the wake of his recent coronation.
According to sources close to the palace, King Charles aims to reduce at least 20% of his royal household staff. This decision aligns with his long-expressed desire for a more streamlined monarchy. The move is not entirely unexpected. As early as last year, following the passing of Queen Elizabeth, there were murmurs about King Charles' intention to introduce "massive" changes to the staff structure, changes that were described as "much larger than anything seen in the last 70 years."
The King's vision is clear: he wishes to be independent and not be bound by the traditions and practices of his mother's reign. "He doesn't want his mother's staff telling him what his mother would do," revealed palace insiders last September.
However, this decision has not been without its detractors. Many staff members, who have dedicated years of service to the crown under Queen Elizabeth, feel slighted by this move. "There is resentment and anger as people feel like they are being tossed aside after a long time of service to the crown," an insider shared.
The restructuring is expected to impact several royal residences, including Buckingham Palace, Sandringham, and Windsor Castle. An insider cited by The Mail on Sunday remarked, "There is a real feeling that the staffing at all the palaces is too heavy." The sentiment within the royal circles is that many staff members perform overlapping duties. For instance, there are separate chefs for the royals and the staff, a redundancy the King and Queen question.
The overarching goal is to ensure that staff members are paid adequately but to have fewer of them. This approach aims to increase efficiency and reduce redundancies. Queen Camilla is believed to play a pivotal role in overseeing these changes, emphasizing the need for a "leveling-up of royal staff."
However, not everyone within the royal family shares King Charles' vision. Princess Anne, in a recent interview with a Canadian news channel, expressed reservations about the idea of a "slimmed-down" monarchy, especially given the reduced number of royals performing official duties after the departures of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Prince Andrew. She remarked, "It doesn't sound like a good idea from where I'm standing … I'm not quite sure what else we can do."
As the monarchy stands on the cusp of a new era, these changes underscore the challenges and decisions that lie ahead. Only time will tell if King Charles' vision for a modernized monarchy will resonate with the times or if it will face resistance from within and outside the palace walls.