Royal family's rare group photo exposes glaring divide amongst all 11 working members, sparking questions about monarchy's future
The royal family has united for a rare group photo during celebrations at Buckingham Palace to mark what would have been the late Queen Elizabeth II's 100th birthday.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were joined by Prince and Princess of Wales and extended members of the family as they hosted a party for 190 guests on Tuesday, April 21, the centenary of Her late Majesty's birth.
But the photo has exposed a glaring divide amongst the 11 working royals, leading to questions about whether the slimmed-down monarchy is sustainable.
Pictured in the group photo were the King, 77, and Queen, 78, Prince William and Catherine, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.
Prince Edward – the Duke of Kent – is the oldest working member of the royal family, aged 90.
Close behind is Princess Alexandra, who is 89. While both carry out limited duties on behalf of the monarch they are not retired, are called on when needed and continue to support a number of charities.
Prince William, who is 43, and Catherine, 44, are the youngest working royals.
The Prince and Princess of Wales with the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are four of the youngest working royals.
Sitting in between the oldest and youngest are the King and Queen, at 77 and 78, Princess Anne at 75, Prince Edward and Sophie, who are 61, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, at 81 and 79.
Prior to King Charles' accession upon the death of his mother on September 8, 2022, there had long been rumours he wanted to reduce the number of working royals to lesson the cost to the taxpayer and bring the House of Windsor more in-line with other royal houses across Europe.
The process happened naturally, with three key figures no longer included in the working royal line up: the Duke and Duchess of Sussex left their places as senior royals for a life of financial independence in the US in 2020 and former prince Andrew retired from public life over his links to Jeffrey Epstein the year before.
The King and Queen with 100 year-old Joan Illingworth during a reception at Buckingham Palace.
Late last year he was formally stripped of all titles, honours and status by the King and was later arrested on suspicions of sharing confidential documents while working as a trade envoy.
Today's group photo was the first of the slimmed-down monarchy in its new era and the first since the Coronation in May, 2023.
The big age gap between the oldest working royals and the youngest has never been more obvious.
The royals attended various events marking what would have been Elizabeth II's 100th birthday on Tuesday.
While Prince George, who is 12, has started carrying out occasional engagements with his parents, it will be some years before he assumes full-time working duties.
Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, are even further off. And that's if Charlotte and Louis, the so-called spares, even become full-time working royals.
The photo of the slimmed-down royal family will no-doubt spark questions for more relatives to be called on, if needed.
Those the King could turn to include his nieces: Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie and Lady Louise Windsor. There are also his two nephews: Peter Philips and James, Earl of Wessex.
However, it's highly unlikely any of these young royals will get a call from the King.
While they are often seen at larger royal-related family events, they are not expected to become taxpayer-funded working members.
The Princess of Wales accessorised with a pearl necklace once owned by Elizabeth II.
Lady Louise and her brother James are both students. Lady Louise, who is 22, attends the University of St Andrews in Scotland, while the earl is 18 and in his final year at Radley College in Oxfordshire.
As for Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, the York sisters have been side-lined from wider royal family events recently due to the scandal engulfing their parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson.
Prince Harry and Meghan are comfortable with their new life as quasi-royals, having just completed a successful four-day tour of Australia which blended commercial appearances with charity events.
Celebrating Elizabeth II's legacy
The royal family attended several events on Tuesday, celebrating Elizabeth II's centenary.
The reception held inside Buckingham Palace saw the royals sing Happy Birthday and cut a cake. Three members of the public who were also celebrating their 100th birthdays on April 21 were also invited.
The Princess of Wales with John Jervois, one of the invited guests to the palace party.
The Princess of Wales, wearing lilac, accessorised with a three-strand pearl necklace once owned by Elizabeth II and first worn by Catherine soon after the monarch's death in 2022.
She was seen hugging Tony Gledhill, 88, a George Cross recipient whose wife recently died.
He told Catherine she had had urged him to attend the event on his own.
The princess said to him: "We'll keep in touch? You must, if you want to? Writing? Please do."
King Charles and Queen Camilla began the day of commemorations by visiting the British Museum to view models of Britain's memorial to the late Queen.
Princess Anne opened a new garden dedicated to her late mother's memory and legacy.
Princess Anne opened a new garden in Regent's Park which features a water tower and a skylight featuring a metal corgi, the late queen's favourite breed of dog.
In a speech shared yesterday, King Charles called Elizabeth II his "darling Mama" who "remained constant, steadfast and wholly devoted to the people she served".
He added: "Much about the times we now live in, I suspect, may have troubled her deeply, but I take heart from her belief that goodness will always prevail and that a brighter dawn is never far from the horizon."
FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.
