Real reason Prince Edward is taking a more active role in royal life

One thing that’s struck me recently is how much more publicly involved the Duke of Edinburgh appears to be. Over the past week, he’s joined the King at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, the opening day of the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, and attended a Buckingham Palace Garden Party with the Prince and Princess of Wales.

Edward has also had his duties to contend with, attending the inauguration of the Pope on his brother’s behalf and a Reception for the Education World Forum, before spending three days visiting the Scottish islands with the Duchess.

So why is the King’s youngest brother now so much more visible and taking a more prominent role in public life? “He’s the future,” one royal source put simply. Much has been made of the dwindling number of senior working royals in recent years, following the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Prince Andrew’s banishment, but the last 12 months have brought this into much sharper focus.

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

The Princess of Wales is still marking a gradual return to royal duties since completing her cancer treatment, and the primary focus for her and her husband remains their three young children. While they remain committed to the Crown, George, Charlotte, and Louis are their world.

The King’s cancer diagnosis last year served as a stark reminder of the reality of their roles and proximity to the throne, so while they remain in their current position, they want to ensure the children have as normal a childhood as possible.

Charles’s siblings are therefore more important than ever. Princess Anne is as stoic as ever, quietly travelling the UK and the world in the name of duty. Edward and Sophie have certainly proved their loyalty in recent years and I’m told they are very happy with the position they find themselves in.

They’re keen to step up and help out where they can, and most importantly, the King enjoys his brother’s company. It certainly appears that we have a new royal power couple in our midst, and their transition to the top has been nothing but seamless.

If there’s one thing you do today, try giving the first episode of Guardians a watch. It’s a new docu-series by the Royal Foundation’s United for Wildlife, which seeks to redefine our understanding of rangers around the world and their critical work protecting nature.

Prince William helped spearhead the idea, which features six episodes that are six to 10 minutes in length and streamed on BBC Earth’s YouTube and social channels.

In a sign of how important the project is to the prince, he showed up to a screening event on Tuesday to discuss the series.

I’ve watched the first three episodes already, and they are incredibly powerful and moving. They shine a new light on what the job of a ranger really entails, as well as the dangers it poses as they work to protect the planet.

Tomorrow I’ll be jetting off to Canada for an incredibly brief visit. The King and Queen are flying more than 3,300 miles for the State Opening of Parliament on Tuesday.

They will spend just one night in the Commonwealth nation, and pack in seven engagements during their whirlwind trip. The trip will be another test of the 76-year-old monarch’s stamina, as he continues to undergo a regular course of cancer treatment.

But I understand the royal couple are very much looking forward to visiting Canada again, and though it is short, they hope it will be “an impactful” trip.

David Beckham’s quest for a knighthood couldn’t be more obvious, as he continues to rub shoulders with royalty and support their charitable endeavours.

On Monday, he joined the King at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show - another example of him schmoozing the main man.

In an interview with Time Magazine this week, he spoke about his hopes for the prestigious title, saying “it would be an unbelievable honour” but conceded “there’s nothing I can do about it”. Well David, you’ll just have to wait and see if you’ve finally done enough when the King’s birthday honours are unveiled in just a few short weeks.

I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.