Although the Queen Consort remains the main tower of strength for the King, three other women will continue to play major roles in supporting him in his slimmed-down core royal family.
The Princess of Wales, the Princess Royal and the Duchess of Edinburgh have all been instrumental in representing the family and fulfilling duties both at home and abroad. And although the British crown will belong to a man for the next three generations – King Charles will be succeeded by the Prince of Wales and then Prince George – the Windsor women will remain a strong force in public life.
The Princess of Wales
The second highest-ranking woman in the family after Camilla, the King's daughter-in-law Kate is a key player, a position that Charles acknowledged in his first speech as monarch, when he bestowed new titles on her husband Prince William and her. "With Catherine beside him, our new Prince and Princess of Wales will, I know, continue to inspire and lead our national conversations," he said.
He also gave Kate her first army role as honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards, a position previously held by her husband. Charles and Kate are reported to enjoy a close relationship, with the King appreciating what an asset she is, popular both at home and abroad.
The Duchess of Edinburgh
While Kate has played a visible role since joining the royal family, Sophie kept largely out of the limelight after marrying the King’s youngest brother, Prince Edward, in 1999. But her public profile has grown and her hard work and loyalty made Sophie a reported favourite of the Queen and a trusted member of the inner circle, with some courtiers apparently referring to her as "the royals' secret weapon".
The Princess Royal
And then there is Charles's younger sister, Princess Anne. With one of the busiest working schedules of any royal, she is involved with more than 300 charities, organisations and forces’ bodies and devotes a large part of her work to official engagements and visits. "The idea of opting out is a non-starter,” she once said.
Although her role was not mapped out like her brother's, the Princess has navigated it with a strong, no-nonsense work ethic and will doubtless remain a steady, reliable and comforting support to His Majesty throughout his reign. As Tina Brown wrote in her book The Palace Papers: "There are plenty in palace circles who believe she is the best king we will never have."
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