Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and even the children of William and Catherine reportedly left underprepared for royal life
The Royal Family is once again facing scrutiny—this time over claims that those not directly in line to the throne, often referred to as “spares,” are being set up to fail.
A former royal aide, who previously worked closely with Prince Andrew, has alleged that the Palace has long neglected to properly prepare royals who aren’t first in the line of succession. The claim, reported by GB News, suggests this lack of support has impacted King Charles’ siblings, as well as the Duke of Sussex.
“They’re expected to just get on and do the job, but they’re often woefully unequipped to do it,” the former aide explained, suggesting Palace staff are left to shoulder much of the responsibility to keep things on track. “So maybe it falls to us to do more of the heavy lifting.”
The ex-staffer warned that the situation serves as a cautionary tale for all current and future “spares”—and for those tasked with guiding them.
Harry, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020 alongside wife Meghan Markle, famously highlighted the struggles of being a spare in his 2023 memoir Spare. His uncle, Prince Andrew, also retreated from public royal life following scandal in 2019.
However, there may be signs of a shift in how the next generation is being raised. Royal commentator Ingrid Seward claims that William and Catherine are taking a more modern approach with their children. While their eldest son George is second in line to the throne, Charlotte and Louis may be granted the freedom to forge non-royal paths.
“It’s not like it was in Charles’s youth,” Seward explained. “Children now have immense choices that didn’t exist even 15 years ago.”
Royal historian Marlene Koenig echoed the sentiment, saying: “William and Catherine, to a certain extent, are going to rip up the rule book and do it their way.”
