Twitter Reacts To Speculations About Prince Andrew Taking Charge As Counsellor Of State

Prince Andrew and Prince Harry have remained Counsellors of State after stepping down from their royal duties, and netizens are against them holding the position even if they are no longer working royals.

Richard Eden, a royal correspondent and the editor of the Daily Mail Diary, shared a screenshot from the Daily Mail's Ephraim Hardcastle's column voicing concern over Prince Andrew's role as Counsellor of State. According to him, if the Queen is ill and Prince Charles is in Ireland while Prince William is in the Caribbean this month, Prince Andrew is the only available Counsellor and, by default, should take charge.

"To safeguard against this grossly unsuitable possibility requires urgent reform of the 1937 Regency Act," a portion of the column read, suggesting the appointment of Princess Anne as the "emergency stand-in monarch."

Eden commented that Prince Harry and Prince Andrew "should be stripped of their roles as Counsellors of State immediately." He agreed with his colleague's opinion in the piece — the Duke of York and Duke of Sussex could step in for the Queen later this month while the Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge are away.

Several netizens reacted to the post, with many agreeing with the opinion shared by Eden and Hardcastle. Some also remarked that Prince Andrew would not take charge because Prince Charles and Prince William could fly home to take over.

"Do we believe that if the Queen becomes ill that Charles will stay in Ireland? It's only an hour flight!" one commented.

"He wouldn't take charge — there is nothing that is so urgent that PoW couldn't be back here in a few hours. Frankly, Parliament's time right now has more important things to contend with," a second user suggested. "And it takes 2 Counsellors of State to sign off documents. It does need to be sorted though," a second user wrote.

Royal correspondent Richard Palmer agreed that Prince William and Prince Charles would need to return for urgent businesses. "I'm told Andrew hasn't acted as a Counsellor of State for decades and there would be uproar if he did now. But most business can be put off for a few days, many audiences for months," he added.

Others suggested replacing the pair with Princess Anne and Prince Edward.

"They should be stripped of their titles, as Counsellors and also ... the line of succession. Asap. Then put Prince Edward and Princess Anne," one wrote.

The Counsellors of State are responsible for taking over royal duties if the Queen is ill and other senior royals are unwell or have engagements abroad. According to the royal family's official website, the Counsellors of State are the next four people in the line of succession over 21 years old. Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Andrew currently hold the position.