SO, WHAT DOES A SLIMMED-DOWN MONARCHY LOOK LIKE?

While Prince of Wales, it was often reported that King Charles wanted fewer people to carry out official duties to make the Firm more cost efficient and bring it more in line with European royals.

- Emily Andrews

As Princess Anne said a few weeks back on Canadian TV, since the idea was first mooted many years ago, much has changed. And we can see that in the official group coronation portrait the King chose to release to commemorate the occasion.

Just one picture was released of the working royals, and if I’m being honest it did look a little fuddy-duddy and well, old. The only people under 65 were the Prince and Princess of Wales (40 and 41 respectively) and Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh (59 and 58).

Perhaps this picture was chosen as a ‘reward’ to royal stalwarts such as the Duke of Kent (87), Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (78 and 76) and Princess Alexandra (86), who have served the Firm so well and uncomplainingly for many years.

But if this is supposed to represent the future of the British monarchy – well, I’d sack the PR advisers! Where were gorgeous Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis? Looking to the wider family, even without Prince Andrew, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie could have been there. And I’d have loved a whole group shot including the eight page boys who served the King and Queen so well.