King Charles gives sister Anne, brother Edward deputy roles

King Charles III has personally asked the UK Parliament to add his siblings, Princess Anne – the Princess Royal, and Prince Edward – the Earl of Wessex, to the list of people who can act as his deputies for official royal duties.

Charles issued a statement on Monday, as he celebrated his 74th birthday, which was read to the House of Lords to state he would be "most content" if his sister and brother could become “Counsellors of State” – effectively the monarch’s stand-ins at events.

This will mean amending the UK’s Regency Act, which at present stipulates that Counsellors are the spouse of the monarch plus the next four royals in succession to the throne, who are over the age of 21.

The Counsellors are made up of King Charles' wife Camilla – the Queen Consort, and Prince William – the Prince of Wales.

Two other senior royals are no longer “working royals” after the King’s younger son Prince Harry – the Duke of Sussex, stepped back from frontline royalty and younger brother Prince Andrew – the Duke of York, was relinquished of his duties following a legal settlement of a sex scandal.

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However, rather than remove them from the list of Counsellors of State, the King has decided to widen the pool of eligible royals.

Both Princess Anne and Prince Edward have previously been Counsellors of State, before being overtaken in the order of succession. It is seen as the King, who succeeded his late mother Queen Elizabeth II in September, making a practical change as he prepares for overseas trips in the new year.