With her uncle King Charles III now on the throne, Princess Beatrice is set to receive an important role in the royal family . She is the elder daughter of Prince Andrew, Duke of York, and Sarah, Duchess of York. Born fifth in line of succession to the British throne, she is now ninth. The legal status of the Counsellors of State allow them to take up royal duties if the King is ill and other senior royals are also unwell or abroad. They are chosen because they are the four next in line to the throne and are at least over the age of 18.
Queen Elizabeth’s Counsellors of State were former Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Andrew and Prince Harry. Upon the Queen’s death, King Charles III has ascended to the throne, meaning there is space for a new Counsellor of State.
Beatrice is also an Italian “Contessa” and “Nobile Donna” after marrying Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020.
The roles, created under the 1937 Regency Act, are given to the monarch’s spouse and the next four adults in the line of succession over the age of 21. The position allows the counsellors to carry out business on behalf of the monarch.
Though Beatrice is currently ninth in the line of succession, she is the fourth adult over 21 — with Prince William, Prince Harry and her father, Prince Andrew, ahead of her. As the spouse of the monarch, Queen Camilla will also serve as a Counsellor of State.
Though they are rarely called upon, Counsellors of State are able to attend Privy Council meetings, sign routine documents and receive the credentials of new ambassadors to the U.K.
There are a number of “core constitutional functions” that cannot be delegated to Counsellors of State, however — including Commonwealth matters, the dissolving of Parliament (unless expressly instructed to do so by the King), the creation of peers and appointing a new Prime Minister.
Events of recent years reportedly created pressure for both Harry and Andrew to be removed from their positions and replaced with other working royals, though the Queen did not make any such changes.
