Princess Anne Takes the Lead: Royal 'Doesn't Like Being Center of Attention' But Is Devoted to Helping Sick King Charles

Anne, Princess Royal, was elevated to the role of senior working royal when her brother, King Charles III, acceded to the throne. Despite being the hardest working British royal for several years running, Her Royal Highness is reported to be "especially devoted" to fulfilling royal duties in the wake of her sibling's cancer diagnosis, as well as the same condition affecting Kate, Princess of Wales.

With two essential stars of the show out of commission "for months to come," Queen Camilla, Prince William and the Princess Royal, are set to shoulder the burden of the Crown's "nonstop public expectations."

"l think Princess Anne is always ready for a frontline role. I think she did when we saw that in the coronation when she was there on her horse guarding the new King," royal expert Angela Levin said of Queen Elizabeth II's only daughter.

"That was a very important job to look after him. I think she's willing to do everything, but she doesn't like the press to follow her. She doesn't like to be the center of attraction. But she will do anything for her brother. I mean, she can be relied on, I think the public likes her very much because she's just no no-nonsense woman, you know?"

Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, are also working royals, and are expected to "step up" in the coming months.

"We also have to understand that even though Their Majesties and the Prince of Wales will be doing their duties, [William] will also need to spend time with his sick wife and their three children," a Kensington Palace insider spilled. "This is why it is vital that the Princess Royal and Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, become more and more acquainted with the nation and Commonwealth."

It is believed that the King has envisioned a small unit of working royals during his reign, as far back as the 1990s. Queen Elizabeth II preferred not to "rock the boat" during her record-breaking time on the throne, which allowed the monarchy to operate as it has for hundreds of years. Since each new sovereign gets to shape their era, it is understood that Charles III is fully dedicated to taking a pair of scissors to many aspects of the institution.

Royal traditionalists are not at all happy about these changes, as they feel it diminishes what makes Britain's royal family unique on the world stage. Although the monarch is keeping many elements of pomp and pageantry, he is looking to cut down on how many family members represent the Crown on a full-time basis, and with his and Kate's major illnesses, analysts say he may need to rethink this request.

GBN interviewed Levin.