How older royals shared greater burden of public duties in 2018

He celebrated his 70th birthday this year, but Prince Charles showed his devotion to royal duties as he completed 507 engagements this year compared to his son Prince William’s 220. 

And other senior members of the royal family, including the Princess Royal, the Earl of Wessex and the Queen, showed their steady work ethic as they carried out a greater share of the official public duties than younger members in 2018.

Although being second in line to the throne, the Duke of Cambridge, 36, carried out fewer engagements in 2018 than most older royal family members and less than half the number of his father Prince Charles.    

And just seven members of the royal family completed more days than the Prince of Wales, including the Queen and her cousin the Duke of Gloucester, 74, according to the annual compilation of royal engagements by Tim O’Donovan. 

Senior members of the royal family, including the Princess Royal (right), the Earl of Wessex (left) and the Queen (centre), showed their steady work ethic as they carried out a greater share of the official public duties than younger members this year

Members of the royal family wave after the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Senior members of the royal family carried out more royal duties than the younger members in 2018

Members of the royal family wave after the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle. Senior members of the royal family carried out more royal duties than the younger members in 2018

Princess Anne, pictured at a memorial service for the 25th anniversary of a bombing by the IRA in Warrington town centre, Cheshire, was the hardest working royal this year

Prince Charles (pictured playing darts during a visit to the Fleece Inn in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, a pub supported by the Pub is The Hub initiative earlier this month), Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, and Princess Anne worked a combined total of 675 days this year 

Princess Anne, pictured at a memorial service for the 25th anniversary of a bombing by the IRA in Warrington town centre, Cheshire and Prince Charles playing darts during a visit to the Fleece Inn in Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire. 

Despite celebrating her 92nd birthday in April, the Queen showed no intention of slowing down and completed 283 official engagements throughout the year

The Queen put on cheerful display as she arrived in Berkshire, UK, in a coordinating mint-coloured coat and hat to view the town's new developments and shopping centres on Friday

Despite celebrating her 92nd birthday in April, the Queen showed no intention of slowing down and completed 283 official engagements throughout the year

The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Sussex and the Duke of Sussex arriving to attend the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. Despite the Duchess of Sussex only becoming a royal in May after her marriage to Prince Harry, Meghan has already completed more royal engagements than the Duchess of Cambridge

The Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duchess of Cambridge, the Duchess of Sussex and the Duke of Sussex arriving to attend the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. Despite the Duchess of Sussex only becoming a royal in May after her marriage to Prince Harry, Meghan has already completed more royal engagements than the Duchess of Cambridge

But Prince William did carry out one more engagement than the Duchess of Cornwall who was once described as ‘the laziest woman in Britain’. 

Despite celebrating her 92nd birthday in April, the Queen showed no intention of slowing down and completed 283 official engagements throughout the year. The monarch increased her workload by 25 per cent this year, according to Write Royalty. 

The Queen’s poignant moments of 2018 included attending the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, sitting in the front row at London Fashion Week and Princess Eugenie’s wedding in October.

Despite the Duchess of Sussex only becoming a royal in May after her marriage to Prince Harry, Meghan has already completed more royal engagements than the Duchess of Cambridge.

The Duchess of Sussex made her first official royal engagement just three days after her nuptials when she attended Prince Charles 70th Birthday celebrations in Buckingham Palace. She has since completed a tour of Australasia where she announced her pregnancy.

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Queen Elizabeth II attend the RAF 100 ceremony at Buckingham Palace to mark the centenary of the RAF in July

Prince Charles, the Queen  and Princess Anne attend the 2018 Braemar Highland Gathering at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Queen Elizabeth II attend the RAF 100 ceremony at Buckingham Palace to mark the centenary of the RAF in July (left). Prince Charles, the Queen and Princess Anne attend the 2018 Braemar Highland Gathering at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park (right)

The wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in Windsor. The Queen and the royal family attended the wedding in October

The wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in Windsor. The Queen and the royal family attended the wedding in October

Despite the Duchess of Sussex only becoming a royal in May after her marriage to Prince William, Meghan has already completed more royal engagements than the Duchess of Cambridge

Despite the Duchess of Sussex only becoming a royal in May after her marriage to Prince William, Meghan has already completed more royal engagements than the Duchess of Cambridge

Despite the Duchess of Sussex only becoming a royal in May after her marriage to Prince William, Meghan has already completed more royal engagements than the Duchess of Cambridge

Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visiting Nice, France. Prince William did carry out more engagements than the Duchess of Cornwall who was once described as 'the laziest woman in Britain'

Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visiting Nice, France. Prince William did carry out more engagements than the Duchess of Cornwall who was once described as ‘the laziest woman in Britain’

Meghan’s working days are expected to increase next year, as the Queen is expected to pass along her patronages to other family members. 

The Duchess of Cambridge carried out the least number of engagements than any other members of the royal family.

However Prince William and Kate have been raising a family, with the Duchess taking maternity leave in March before giving birth to Prince Louis the following month. 

She returned to official duties in October on a visit to the Sayers Croft Forest School and Wildlife Garden at Paddington Recreation Ground in West London. 

And with three children, the Duke and Duchess appear to have been spending more time with their family while the children are young.    

Princess Anne, 68, was the crowned the hardest working royal for the third year running with a total of 518 royal engagements. 

This year, her engagements included visiting Chile for the 200th Anniversary of the navy earlier this month and observing the annual census of the swan population on the River Thames in July. 

The Earl of Wessex and Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, carried out more than younger royals Prince Harry and Prince William – despite the brothers’ fame. 

Prince Harry and Prince William attend the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel. The Earl of Wessex and Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, carried out more than younger royals Prince Harry and Prince William - despite the brothers' fame

Prince Harry and Prince William attend the wedding of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle at St George’s Chapel. The Earl of Wessex and Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, carried out more than younger royals Prince Harry and Prince William – despite the brothers’ fame

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex at the Cenotaph in London's Whitehall. Despite the Duchess of Sussex only becoming a royal in May after her marriage to Prince William, Meghan has already completed more royal engagements than the Duchess of Cambridge

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex at the Cenotaph in London's Whitehall. Despite the Duchess of Sussex only becoming a royal in May after her marriage to Prince William, Meghan has already completed more royal engagements than the Duchess of Cambridge

The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex at the Cenotaph in London’s Whitehall. Despite the Duchess of Sussex only becoming a royal in May after her marriage to Prince William, Meghan has already completed more royal engagements than the Duchess of Cambridge

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge depart the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital with their newborn baby son on April 23. Prince William and Kate have been raising a family, with the Duchess taking maternity leave in March before giving birth to Prince Louis the following month

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge depart the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Hospital with their newborn baby son on April 23. Prince William and Kate have been raising a family, with the Duchess taking maternity leave in March before giving birth to Prince Louis the following month

Prince Harry making his speech to open the Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014. The younger royals instead have chosen to focus on fewer projects that they are more involved in

Prince Harry making his speech to open the Invictus Games, which he founded in 2014. The younger royals instead have chosen to focus on fewer projects that they are more involved in

The younger royals instead have chosen to focus on fewer projects that they are more involved in, including their Heads Together mental health initiative Prince Harry organising the Invictus Games.

The Duke of Edinburgh stepped down from official duties last year and has pared back his public appearances however he did take part in six royal engagements this year.

Prince Edward took over from Prince Philip as head of the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme after his retirement. He was not present at the service at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday, missing the ceremony for the first time in 20 years.

However, he was spotted leaving Buckingham Palace following Prince Charles’ 70th birthday celebrations earlier this month.

And since his retirement, Philip has had more time to enjoy carriage-driving on the grounds of Windsor, which has been one of his favourite past-times since the 1970s.  

The Duke of Edinburgh was seen yesterday, on the eve of the armistice, riding on his carriage on the grounds of Windsor Castle. Philip has had more time to enjoy carriage-driving on the grounds of Windsor, which has been one of his favourite past-times since the 1970s

The Duke of Edinburgh was seen yesterday, on the eve of the armistice, riding on his carriage on the grounds of Windsor Castle. Philip has had more time to enjoy carriage-driving on the grounds of Windsor, which has been one of his favourite past-times since the 1970s

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