For a couple so concerned about climate change, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sure do rack up the air miles. Jordan, Australia, Nigeria, Colombia, Jupiter.
OK, one of those might not be true but for non-working royals there’s a lot of sort-of-working as royals. And after every trip, speculation intensifies that they might return to Britain as proper super-duper royals.
The thing is, would they really want to? At the moment, their days are probably no more complicated than deciding whether to bake scones or flapjacks when Oprah pops round for afternoon tea.
Meanwhile, back in Britain a royal’s job can at times be only marginally more appetising than cleaning the toilets at the end of the Glastonbury Festival.
This week Princess Anne, for instance, was at a power station in Scotland to unveil a commemorative plaque marking the 60th anniversary of its opening. A visit that sounds so dull it’s a surprise that the Princess Royal didn’t decide to instantly retire.
Pretty easy work you might say, shaking a few hands, looking anything other than broken when unveiling the plaque. But Anne is a workhorse – carrying out a frankly mind-boggling 478 official engagements in 2025. And she’s 75 years old.
Present that kind of diary to Meghan and you can imagine she’d suggest making a new flavour of jam instead. Lime? Banana? Yorkshire pudding? Anything other than the power station in Scotland.
And it’s becoming evident that the royals don’t really need the Sussexes (who really should have been renamed the Californias by now) either.
King Charles and Prince William are fans of a slimmed-down monarchy. But even if they do need some help just to give Princess Anne the occasional day off, they aren’t short of options of other royals who could step up to help out.
Albeit they are non-working royals, Zara and Mike Tindall are hugely popular with royal fans. Edward and Sophie already do plenty of the dirty work, attending scores of engagements that are just a bit too boring for Charles, William or Kate. But they will no doubt be called on even more in the years ahead. No scandal, no fuss, no moaning. Just be like Edward, you can imagine Charles screaming at Andrew as yet another Epstein file is released.
And now we have Lady Louise. Only 22, it feels like she is going to lead the next generation of young royals who can make the monarchy relevant to and popular with a new generation of fans.
This week it emerged that she’s started a new job – helping to organise the Royal Windsor Horse Show.
Event director Nick Brooks-Ward told Vanity Fair: “She’s a great worker and a real asset to the team with no airs or graces. It’s a proper paid job, and there’s no special treatment because of who she is.”
And this comes as no surprise to anyone who saw the picture of Edward and Sophie’s daughter on a packed train surrounded by commuters. Andrew would probably have ordered them all out of the carriage to make room for his teddy bears. Harry might have launced a court case given the terrifying security risks.
Louise just plumped herself down on the floor and got on with some university coursework. This is what your average Brit wants to see.
The royals just mucking in like anyone else. Obviously they’re all stinking rich and have a choice of palaces to stay in for their holidays. But coming across as no more special than anyone else, endears you to the public.
Carry on like this, and Louise could be a real royal superstar in the years ahead. Harry and Meghan? You’re probably better off where you are. Even if James Corden is coming round for dinner.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
