The hardest working Royal of the decade: Princess Anne only came second

Being a member of the royal family is a privilege, but it also comes with numerous responsibilities. Members of the British royal family have a busy schedule that includes attending public events, representing the country on diplomatic missions, and visiting charities. With so many duties, some members of the royal family are more hardworking than others.

And the title of the hardest-working royal over the past decade has been unveiled, according to data compiled by royal watcher Tim O'Donovan for The Times. Despite being recognized as the family member who works the most due to the numerous engagements she takes on each year, Princess Anne didn't come in first place on the list.

Who is the hardest working Royal of the decade?

According to The Mirror, the data compiled by royal watcher Tim O'Donovan for The Times reveals that King Charles has been the hardest-working royal over the last ten years. He carried out an impressive 4,854 official engagements during this time, most of which were done in his time as Prince of Wales. Charles's busiest year since 2010 was 2011 when he carried out 601 engagements, which was the highest compared to any royal at any point over the past 13 years, reports The Daily Mail.

It is no surprise that he has taken over the role of the hardest-working royal from his mother, late Queen Elizabeth II. The report reveals that the newly crowned King's engagements included a wide range of charities, arts organizations, and military events.

Princess Anne only ranked second

The Princess Royal is often described as the family's 'hardest working' due to the sheer number of engagements she quietly undertakes each year. Although she did not top the list, Princess Anne was not far behind, attending 4,693 engagements.

Like her brother Charles, she is known for her work with charities and organizations in areas such as health, education, and sport. She served as President of the International Equestrian Federation from 1987-93, and is the Honorary President of the British Olympic Association.

Despite her ailing health, the late-Queen Elizabeth II attended an impressive 2,721 engagements over the last decade before her death in September, making her the fourth hardest-working royal.

Prince Andrew's surprising position

Placing fifth is Prince Andrew, who attended 2,289 engagements while still serving as the Duke of York. He has been involved in various business and charitable endeavors throughout his life, as well as serving as a naval officer in the British armed forces. However, he has faced controversy in recent years over his connections to the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, formerly known as the Countess of Wessex, has carried out 2,253 engagements.

Camilla, Queen Consort, formerly the Duchess of Cornwall, has undertaken 2,084 engagements, less than half the number of duties the King has over recent years. The Duke of Gloucester, the late-Queen's cousin Prince Richard, attended 2,056 engagements.

Prince William placed ninth on the list with his 1,709 engagements in this time. He served in the British armed forces for several years before becoming a full-time royal in 2017. William and Kate's relatively slimmer schedule could be attributed to taking time off for parental responsibilities towards their three children, but it should be noted that the Prince and Princess of Wales have undertaken numerous significant projects as part of her engagements. Examples of this are the Earthshot Prize, United for Wildlife and Catherine's work for the Centre for Early Childhood, reports The Mirror.

Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, who passed away in 2021, attended 1,057 engagements despite being in his late eighties and nineties.

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, carried out 1,031 in this time.

Kate, now the Princess of Wales, was named the 13th hardest working royal with 1,024 engagements.

Meghan Markle is the least hardworking royal

Prince Harry, who left working royal life in 2020, attended 1,009 engagements, placing him 14th on the list. Princess Alexandra, a cousin of the Queen, attended 836 engagements.

Meanwhile, Meghan Markle completed 179 engagements during her brief period as a senior royal before she and Harry stepped down in 2020 and relocated to North America, placing her at the bottom of the list.

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