6 Royal ‘Spares’ Who Could Face a Major Shake-Up Once King Charles Is Gone

The “heir and spare” struggle has haunted the royal family for generations, from King Henry VIII and King George VI to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, Prince Harry, and even Prince Louis. None could escape the so-called “spare” curse, where each new royal heir pushes them further down the line of succession. But when a monarch dies, royal power dynamics shift dramatically, as seen after Queen Elizabeth II’s death. So what happens to the spares once the comparatively gentle King Charles III is no longer there to protect them?

With Charles no longer in the picture, it will definitely call for a shift in Prince Harry’s royal standing. Although he stepped down from his royal duties long ago, he and his family still have their titles. With Harry and Prince William at loggerheads, the former might lose his title once his elder brother becomes the King. Apart from that, Harry already has little to no contact with his family and doesn’t even earn from his dukedom, so the changes will just be customary. "Harry will have zero role, zero title, and zero place in the new monarchy,” shared expert Robert Shuter with OK! magazine.

While many may suffer, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward, will have things in his favor. With his brother gone, he will see a rise in responsibility, and as a trusted senior royal, he will likely guide William during his reign. Since Harry’s departure, he has already stepped up his game, and going forward, his role in the royal family will only get more impactful.

The disgraced royal, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, will have it the worst once William inherits the throne. While the former prince is already stripped of his royal titles and privileges, he still has his brother, the King, supporting him financially and providing him with a house. Reportedly, William has different plans. He will not only ban him from all public events but will also yank all his remaining perks. "It should have been done by Charles this week, but William knows he doesn't have the strength because of his illness. William won't be afraid to take the next step," previously shared a source with the Daily Beast.

While still young, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will also see a shift in their royal duties and titles. There are several predictions that the two might get new titles like the Princess Royal and the Dukedom of Cambridge, respectively, but there is no confirmation. William might even park their titles so that they can later, as adults, decide if they want to keep their titles at all. The Prince of Wales reportedly intends to remove the royal prerogative that allows non-working royals to use their titles. So, is a major shakeup on the way?

If there is one royal who won’t see much of a difference in their royal status and duties after William takes over, it will be Princess Anne. She is 18th in line to the throne and for decades has been managing several royal duties. With William taking over, she will definitely continue to guide him as well. Apart from her, Princess Eugenie, a spare like her sister Princess Beatrice, will also likely see no difference in her royal status. With her parents’ scandal, she might no longer get any additional power in the firm, but her life is unlikely to be hindered.