Queen Elizabeth is unable to perform her formal responsibilities as sovereign for an extended period of time owing to sickness or absence abroad, which means Prince Andrew and Prince Harry are still a part of Counsel.

The two or more Counsellors of State are appointed by Letters Patent to function in her stead.

Any monarch’s spouse and the next four people in the line of succession, now Charles, William, Harry, and Andrew, take on the function of Counsellor of State.

Concerns have been raised in recent weeks about the arrangements, which can only be amended through legislation when Charles received Covid while William was abroad in Dubai at the same time.