The royal family is known for its public-friendly activities and busy work schedule, even during health crises and feuds, but some Britons think differently.
An anti-monarchy group also criticized this narrative, accusing royals of not “working” while mocking the length of engagements.
Campaign organization Republic CEO Graham Smith says people get the wrong verdict when they learn a member of the royal family attended an event.
“They don’t have a job or responsibilities, they don’t have any decisions to make, there’s no accountability,” Smith said. The National.
“I know how small they are [engagements] because I’ve been out protesting a lot of them, and they come in and out relatively quickly, and they have very little substance. They don’t work. They are participating in it, according to the head of the anti-monarch group.
He tried to explain why they don’t always work, adding: “The other thing I notice is that when they talk about engagements, there is a sense of public duty that they are doing something for the country, but quite a few things in the court circular are private.”
He added that their meetings with the presidents of their charities have nothing to do with anyone else.
“People imagine engagements to be about going to a community center, walking in and out, walking the line and saying hello to people, but most of them aren’t like that.”
The royal family explained that the pledges are important to “support and encourage the public and charity”.
According to reports, around 3,000 organizations list a member of the royal family as their boss or president. Some 2,458 official royal duties were recorded in 2025, with King Charles claiming the title of hardest-working royal of the year.
The monarch made 532 official engagements throughout the year, even as her cancer treatment continues.
The 77-year-old monarch beat her sister Princess Anne by 50 tasks, with the Princess Royal completing 478 commitments despite working more individual days than her brother.
Meanwhile, Prince Edward secured third place in the rankings with 313 engagements, making him the only royal to reach the 300 bracket.
Duchess Sophie follows in fourth place, having completed 235 tasks. Queen Camilla, 78, placed fifth with 228 engagements.
