# Just how busy are the British royal family? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 4, 2021, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656 "2021-07-04T11:34:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/1 "2021-07-04T11:34:41Z")
My wife and I read an article about Charles’ favorite songs, which was eye-opening. His comments were that several of them were on his list because they were played at memorable events (e.g., a family birthday). I joked that the Prince must not have a lot of time to listen to the radio or watch music videos, which seems a shame. My wife believes that the royals are indeed scheduled very tightly and that they really don’t have a lot of free time for personal leisure activities, such as reading, watching TV, listening to music, etc. She believes that their typical day starts with a schedule briefing, then a breakfast meeting, building dedication, charitable board meeting, luncheon appearance, and so forth until quite late at night. Working at being royalty for 14 to 16 hours a day seems a bit harsh to me. What’s the point of being a royal and having money if you have to bust your butt all day? Does anybody have solid information on this? I’m thinking of a pie chart or something that shows the %age of time spent doing specific activities, especially royal duties and obligations like public appearances, as well as attendance at the usual charitable trusts, board meetings, and similar boring stuff. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/2 "2021-07-04T21:36:41Z")
I don’t have an answer, but what you describe sounds like the day of executive level staff in any major corporation - which of course is what the Royal Family is. ETA: bu executive staff I mead CEO, CFO, COO, plus executive VPs. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/3 "2021-07-04T22:00:01Z")
I’d also like to ask, to what extent can the royal family say no? What if they say, “No, we _ **don’t** _ want to do (entire week full of scheduled activities,) we want to go to the Bahamas?” ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/4 "2021-07-04T22:20:01Z")
The tabloids would say bad stuff about you and people (most importantly, historians) might not love you anymore. Next thing you know, the monarchy is abolished and a thousand year legacy is terminated just because you couldn’t be bothered to have tea with the Luton PTA. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/5 "2021-07-04T22:37:24Z")
My guess is that they can’t abruptly cancel scheduled appearances but instead breaks like that are put on the calendar. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/6 "2021-07-04T22:49:15Z")
A calendar that stretches several years ahead ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [July 4, 2021, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/7 "2021-07-04T23:21:26Z")
All that stuff probably made many in the outfit less than keen on Harry deciding to just drop it and go chill. Just more stuff for the rest of their calendars. After all the Honorable Guild of Shrubbers can’t be left without a Royal Patron’s visit to the yearly trade meeting. > [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Next thing you know, the monarchy is abolished and a thousand year legacy is terminated just because you couldn’t be bothered to have tea with the Luton PTA You can do it, dudes! Just hold on past 2066 with old King Wills still on the chair at 84, so you got a 1000-year William-to-William thing going. ---
**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/8 "2021-07-05T01:20:24Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > After all the Honorable Guild of Shrubbers can’t be left without a Royal Patron’s visit to the yearly trade meeting. Roger would be very upset. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/9 "2021-07-05T03:43:27Z")
Here’s a post I made in the thread on Prince Philip: > [@Prince Philip has died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prince-philip-has-died/939670/88): > > It’s estimated that in the last 66 years, Prince Phillip did 22,000 solo engagements, at community events, charity events, commercial conferences and so on. He’s also believed to have made 5,500 speeches. > > That averages 83 speaking events a year, and 333 solo engagements a year. That’s a pretty impressive workload, especially considering he was still doing it (albeit at a reduced pace) until just 3 years ago, when he turned 96. > > That doesn’t count the engagements when he was accompanying the Queen, two steps behind. > > Stats from this article: > > [Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, dead at 99 | CBC News](https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/prince-philip-dead-dies-obit-obituary-1.5981009) > > > [@](#): > > > > Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh and husband of Queen Elizabeth, died today at 99. He was the longest-serving royal consort in British history, and deeply devoted to his duty in that role. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/10 "2021-07-05T03:44:43Z")
> [@ZonexandScout](#): > > His comments were that several of them were on his list because they were played at memorable events (e.g., a family birthday). Elton John’s 1997 version of _Candle in the Wind_ comes to mind… ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/11 "2021-07-05T06:06:57Z")
There’s a massive office/planning background operation supporting public engagements and keeping the “working royals” briefed as to what they’re doing and when, who they’re meeting and why, and what sort of complimentary remarks might be made - and so on (even, if rumour is true, down to loo-breaks, or “pause for refreshment”). They will also see a fair bit of correspondence. There have been several TV documentaries about all that. Private time and days off are likewise factored into the diary planning. (Same sort of operation as for government ministers). And as with any landed family, there are estates to be run, or at least supervised. In Charles’s case, his Duchy of Cornwall estates have been the object of his enthusiasms (organics, architecture and planning, etc); and he is notoriously active in writing to government ministers about issues that catch his eye. He keeps himself busy. ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/12 "2021-07-05T06:32:20Z")
There is a Royal Calendar which is the official list of public events and probably other notable things the Royals are required to do: > **[Future Engagements](https://www.royal.uk/future-engagements)** Unsurprisingly, its looking a bit thin at the moment, so I expect there is a lot of clearing out cupboards and dusting the ermine going on while they have the chance. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/13 "2021-07-05T06:50:46Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > All that stuff probably made many in the outfit less than keen on Harry deciding to just drop it and go chill. Just more stuff for the rest of their calendars. After all the Honorable Guild of Shrubbers can’t be left without a Royal Patron’s visit to the yearly trade meeting. Totally, with Harry and Mehgan ejecting and Andrew being…well…ejected…they have a shortage of Royals in their prime (ie over 21 and under 65). Everyone else has to pick up the slack. That includes so-called “minor Royals”, who find themselves drafted to cover shortfalls in coverage. There is precedent for that, when Diana died and Fergie was on the outs, they had few female Royals and they made Anne’s daughter, Zara, fulfill some engagements. Back in the 1950’s, the Queen’s cousins also stepped in. There was a book on the Royal Family which said that the worst position was being minor Royal, you were expected to work for a living, which was fine, but with little notice, you might find yourself being “requested” to undertake duties. WIth little compensation and if you complaint the Palace offices were more than happy to leak to the press “how entitled” you attitude was. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/14 "2021-07-05T09:22:21Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > being minor Royal, you were expected to work for a living, which was fine, but with little notice, you might find yourself being “requested” to undertake duties. “Noblesse oblige” With rank and privilege comes responsibility and duty. ---
**Author:** ![AK84](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85e7bf/32.png) [@AK84](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AK84)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/15 "2021-07-05T09:42:45Z")
I think that was the point, as a minor Royal you got the rank and responsibility but zilch privilege. You get a phone call out of the blue and suddenly you find yourself judging some Horticulture show in Hampshire. And then Parliament and the press moans about the compensation given to you, which don’t come near making up your lost wages. Philip’s grandfather famously asked **not** to be created a Duke since that would entail certain obligations which he would be unable to fulfil since his only source of income was his Admiral’s pay. ---
**Author:** ![GreenWyvern](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/greenwyvern/32/2834_2.png) [@GreenWyvern](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreenWyvern)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/16 "2021-07-05T10:19:22Z")
The best symbol of the status of royalty is the personal badge of King Richard II, the White Hart. [![](https://i.ibb.co/nzS5x1S/white-hart.jpg) ](https://i.ibb.co/nzS5x1S/white-hart.jpg) It shows a white hart tethered with a golden chain and a golden collar in the form of crown. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/17 "2021-07-05T16:20:29Z")
But he did get a lot of pubs named after him… 😀 ---
**Author:** ![md-2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9d8465/32.png) [@md-2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md-2000)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/18 "2021-07-05T20:54:17Z")
If we are to trust the series _The Crown_ then what appears to be their schedule is non-stop events with the option for actual vacations where, for example, they could take a few days off to go to Balmoral (even then interrupted by the local choir or Scottish Dancers putting on a performance) and the occasional ski trip or visit to the Bahamas. Also, that 333 engagements looks a bit less onerous when we consider that most royal outings consist of half a dozen or more events crammed into one day. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [July 5, 2021, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/19 "2021-07-05T23:41:46Z")
> [@AK84](#): > > Totally, with Harry and Mehgan ejecting and Andrew being…well…ejected…they have a shortage of Royals in their prime (ie over 21 and under 65). Everyone else has to pick up the slack. This could even cause constitutional hiccups. The Counsellors of State can jointly stand in for the Queen for official matters, but the only people who can service as Counsellors of State are the Sovereign’s consort and the next 4 people in the line of succession who are over 21 (18 if 1st in line) resident in the UK. Since Prince Phillip is dead and Prince Harry lives abroad that leaves Princes Charles, William, Andrew and Princess Beatrice. And Andrew is out for obvious reasons. ---
**Author:** ![ZonexandScout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zonexandscout/32/544_2.png) [@ZonexandScout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZonexandScout)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2021, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656/20 "2021-07-07T02:55:18Z")
Thanks for the input and comments! The fact that Prince Charles, for example, has time to be involved in organics and architecture/planning suggests that he has some “spare” time to indulge that desire. I guess that’s what I’m asking about. In order to become knowledgeable or experienced in a subject, one has to have a pretty significant amount of time available. My original question specifically mentioned music. What if the question had been, “What are your favorite books from the last ten years?” Personally, I would only feel comfortable answering a question like this if I had read a reasonable number of books. Does your typical royal actually have spare time to kick back and read on a weekly or daily basis? Based on “The Crown,” one gets the impression that they are engaged in family events and estate management when they’re not carrying out official duties. Just call me curious. I’d like money and privilege, but I like literature and the arts, too. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/just-how-busy-are-the-british-royal-family/945656.md?page=2)