King Charles III celebrated his birthday this week, capturing headlines as he assumed a new park ranger role previously held by his late father, Prince Philip.

The day was marked by military bands performing Happy Birthday outside Buckingham Palace during the changing of the guard, and the royal family shared celebratory notes and photos on their official social media accounts.

However, amidst the festivities, King Charles also took steps to address an ongoing unresolved issue that predates Queen Elizabeth II’s passing.

On Monday, the King approached the UK Parliament, requesting that his siblings, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, be appointed as Councillors of State.

This move would grant them temporary authority to act on his behalf when necessary.

In a message read out in the House of Lords, King Charles emphasized the importance of maintaining the smooth functioning of the government.

He stated that if Parliament deemed it appropriate, he would be content to see his sister and brother, the Princess Royal and the Earl of Wessex and Forfar, respectively, included in the expanded group of Councillors of State.

Both individuals have previously fulfilled this role.

The same message was also conveyed in the House of Commons.

Currently, the Regency Acts from 1937 to 1953 limit the number of Royals who can assume the role of Councillor of State to five individuals.

This group includes the monarch’s spouse and the first four family members in the line of succession who are over the age of 21.

Through letters patent, two Councillors can be appointed to act on behalf of the sovereign, ensuring the continuity of state affairs.

The current cohort consists of Queen Consort Camilla, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Sussex, the Duke of York, and Princess Beatrice.

Experts have long argued that the existing pool of Councillors is insufficient, especially considering the late Queen’s declining health in her later years.

It is worth noting that Prince Charles and Prince William were occasionally authorized to act as Councillors during the Queen’s illness.

However, it did not escape public attention that her other two Councillors were Princes Harry and Andrew, despite their departure from official royal duties for different, well-publicized reasons.

While discussions about changes to the Regency Act typically remain confined within palace walls, the topic gained renewed attention following King Charles’ ascension.

Since any amendments to the act require legislation, it was introduced and discussed in the House of Lords for the first time last month.

Labour peer Viscount Stansgate raised concerns about the Regency powers of Princes Andrew and Harry, noting that the Duke of York had withdrawn from public life and the Duke of Sussex had left the country.

Stansgate suggested it might be time to approach the King to explore potential amendments to the act.

In response, Lord Prevyseal, Lord True, acknowledged that he could not disclose any private conversations with the King or the Royal Household.

However, he assured that the government would always consider necessary arrangements to ensure constitutional resilience.

The recent actions by King Charles indicate that the Palace has been actively considering the dilemma and available options.

Expanding the group of official stand-ins is not unprecedented, as a similar expansion occurred for the Queen Mother in 1953 when Queen Elizabeth II assumed the throne.

Practically speaking, there appears to be a desire within Parliament to swiftly address this issue.

A day after King Charles’ request, members of the House of Lords responded, assuring the Monarch that they would promptly take action and implement measures necessary to fulfill his purpose.

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