Palace accused of missing opportunity to showcase royal future

King Charles has been warned that the next generation of royals risks being sidelined amid a “slimmed-down” approach.

The Royal family sparked debate on the slimming down monarchy approach after they released the new royal portrait marking the 100th birth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II.

The image, featuring Charles, Queen Camilla and other senior working royals, excluded younger and non-working members of the family.

Speaking on it, royal expert Jennie Bond told The Mirror that the Palace faces a difficult balancing act between cutting costs and maintaining public interest.

“The Palace does need to find a way to keep [the younger generation] interested. And it’s not easy when there is also intense pressure to make the monarchy accountable and keep down the costs of the working Royals,” she said.

The expert added, “And that’s why I think it’s unlikely that people like Lady Louise or James, The Earl of Wessex, will take up official royal duties – even if they want to, which is pretty unlikely anyway.”

“That’s not to say that some of the younger crowd shouldn’t take part in Royal events,” Bond continued. “Perhaps the Palace should tap into the huge popularity of Zara and Mike Tindall.

“It would have been nice to see them, and their children, included in that photo marking the Centenary of the late Queen’s birth.

“In fact it would have been better to have had all the youngsters – including George, Charlotte and Louis – in the picture. I’m not sure why the Palace felt it had to be simply the working Royals.

“So, yes, I do think that the Palace has an image problem on its hands and it needs to think up ways of interesting today’s youngsters in the work and lives of the royal family.”