Princess Beatrice Appointed as Councillor of State Following Queen Elizabeth II’s Passing

The royal family has been experiencing a lot of changes lately, both personal and official, following the very sad passing of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 96.

One of the queen's eight grandchildren, Princess Beatrice, has seen a significant change in her role and responsibility.

The eldest daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, has become a councillor of state.

Being a councillor of state means that Beatrice is now one of only four people who can act on behalf of and fill in for King Charles III when instructed to do so.

Her new duties will include participating in privy council meetings, signing documents, and receiving the credentials of new ambassadors.

Before Queen Elizabeth II's death, the required four councillors of state were her two sons, Prince Charles and Prince Andrew, and Charles' two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.

However, now that Charles has stepped into his new position as reigning monarch, a new councillor of state needed to be appointed.

Previously, it was known that the councillors of state would step in for Her Majesty should she be unable to carry out her duties due to illness or absence abroad, and that's precisely what Beatrice will be prepared to do for Charles moving forward.

The responsibility has fallen to her because she is the highest candidate in the line of succession who is over the age of 21 years old.

Currently, Princess Beatrice is ninth in the order of inheriting the throne.

Despite not appearing in the line of succession, King Charles' wife of 17 years, Camilla, Queen Consort, is also able to fill in for her husband should she be instructed to.

Recently, Beatrice's husband, Italian Count Edo Marpelli Mozzi, shared a previously unseen image of the Queen and her husband of 73 years, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, along with giving an insight into how he and the Princess were processing the loss of Her Majesty.

The granddaughters of Queen Elizabeth were pictured outside Balmoral Castle on Saturday along with their father Prince Andrew, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and his wife Sophie Wessex, their daughter Lady Louise Windsor and Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips.

The touching snaps saw the sisters comforting one another as they looked at flowers left by the public outside Balmoral Castle.

Princess Eugenie was seen shedding a tear at the display, as her father Prince Andrew put an arm around her in consolation.

Returning to Balmoral after attending a short prayer service, the royals were dressed in all black.

The crowd of onlookers broke out into applause as they waved to members of the public.

Princess Beatrice and Eugenie were known to have a close bond with their grandmother, though they sadly could not make it back in time for her death, as Eugenie currently lives in Portugal with her husband Jack Brooksbank, and Beatrice was unable to fly to Balmoral.

The Queen died at Balmoral on Thursday at the age of 96, and reports say that King Charles III and Princess Anne were by the side of their mother as she passed.

A short time after the palace released a statement announcing her death, Charles released the statement, “We mourn profoundly the passing of a cherished sovereign and a much-loved mother.