Andrew, Harry and Beatrice will not serve as counsellors of state

Buckingham Palace has quietly made provision to prevent both the Duke of York and Duke of Sussex from acting as substitutes for the King.

Prince Andrew stepped down from royal duties in November 2019, while Prince Harry quit his royal role in 2020 to move to the United States.

Both remain counsellors of state — members of the royal family who can officially carry out duties if the sovereign is unwell or abroad. However, the King discreetly made provision to sideline them in an act instigated shortly after he ascended the throne.

In the Counsellors of State Act 2022, the King added both his sister and brother, the Princess Royal and the Duke of Edinburgh, to the list of family members who can act for