In the statistics released today, Princess Anne and Prince Charles were the busiest Royals, totalling up more royal engagements in the UK than any other member of the Royal Family. Prince Andrew came in third.
This year The Princess Royal topped the list with 455 engagements carried out in the UK; Anne was also seen at 85 engagements abroad, making her total for the year 540 engagements. This averages 10.3 engagements per week, and her work this year included a visit to China, celebrating the centenary of the 99 Squadron of the RAF and unveiling a new monument at the National Memorial Arboretum.
Prince Charles and Princess Anne carried out the most engagements in 2017. Picture by Andrew Parsons / i-Images
The Times compiles a list of all work undertaken by the Royal Family, including public engagements, meetings, and receptions. It does not include family events such as attending church at Easter, or Trooping the Colour.
This list has placed The Prince of Wales in second place for his 374 British engagements and 172 abroad (the most out of the family overseas); however, his total number of engagements comes to 546 over the year – an average of 10.5 engagements per week, making his workload more than Princess Anne’s. Charles has travelled to Northern Ireland, and spent time with the Parachute Regiment.
In third place came The Duke of York, who worked at 220 engagements at home and 106 abroad, equalling 326 engagements over the year (average of 6.2 p/w). His work is not often noticed, but he hosts a number of Pitch at the Palace events across the globe each year.
— Juliette (@RoyalDetective8) December 29, 2017
Her Majesty, who only conducted engagements in the UK, is in fourth with 296. At 91, The Queen still carries out her duties as Head of State, including her weekly meeting with the Prime Minister and her daily red box of governmental papers and minutes. Her average is 5.7 engagements each week.
The youngest child of The Queen, The Earl of Wessex came in fourth, with a total of 291 engagements in his diary for 2017 (233 in the UK, and 58 abroad). His average is 5.5 work events a week, and this year his work included plenty of trips for the Duke of Edinburgh Award and commemorating the fallen of WWII.
Despite her fear of flying, The Duchess of Cornwall conducted 90 engagements overseas, and 145 at home, bringing her workload to 235 events for the year, averaging 4.5 a week. 2017 saw Camilla head to Malaysia, and hear the stories of domestic abuse victims back in February.
The Duchess of Cornwall undertook an average of 4.5 engagements per week in 2017 (Korona Lacasse)
A lesser-watched member of the Royal Family sits in sixth position: The Duke of Gloucester. He carried out a total of 232 engagements this year, 220 of them in the UK and 12 overseas (avg. 4.5 p/w). Prince Richard is past the usual age of retirement at 73, but enjoyed a visit to his namesake Cathedral this year, and handing out The Queen’s Award for Enterprise.
The Countess of Wessex is in seventh place, with 218 engagements to her name, 148 of which were at home and 70 abroad. Sophie worked an average of 4.2 engagements each week, including a recent visit to Bangladesh, and a visit to a Staffordshire hospital and asperger’s charity.
Prince Harry was the ‘hardest working’ young Royal, with 209 events in his diary. Almost a third of his work was done overseas (70 engagements), including the Toronto Invictus Games, and a garden party at Buckingham Palace for military families who have lost a parent. His average is 4 per week.
Prince Harry worked overseas a lot in 2017. Picture by Andrew Parsons / i-Images
The 82-year-old Duke of Kent is ranked ninth, with 160 engagements under his belt this year, 14 of which were abroad, including his trip to Norway, honouring WWII heroes. Prince Edward also awarded freemasons Victoria Crosses earlier this year.
The Duke of Cambridge sits in 10th position, with 171 engagements to his name for 2017. Prince William was working as an air ambulance pilot until the July, but visited Finland earlier this month, and joined The Queen to meet those affected by the Grenfell Tower fire, too.
Even though he retired in August, The Duke of Edinburgh carried out 131 engagements this year. He also did not travel abroad for work in 2017, at the age of 96, and handed over some responsibilities, such as his Captain Generalship of the Marines to Prince Harry.
With a total of 113 engagements Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, is in 12th place in the table. 14 engagements were overseas, while the home events included a visit to the Royal School of Needlework with Camilla last month. She is 71.
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is joined by The Duchess of Gloucester, President of the Royal School of Needlework, meeting staff and students and see the innovative and beautiful hand embroidery work being created. Picture by Andrew Parsons / i-Images
In 13th place we have The Duchess of Cambridge. She had 105 events this year, and over a month off to recover from her severe morning sickness brought on by her third pregnancy. Of her total, 54 of Catherine’s engagements were abroad, including the Cambridge’s visit to Poland and Germany.
Princess Alexandra, 81, sits in 14th place, with a total of 65 engagements over the course of 2017.
The Royal Family as a whole, therefore, carried our 3638 engagements, which works out at 70 each week, though of course August’s diary is usually empty.
What do you think of these stats? And what was your favourite engagement of 2017? Let us know!
2 comments
How happy new year and good luck to Henry
Thank you for all YOUR hard work! God bless you all in the new year. We love you in america.