The Royal Race: A Look at the Family's Secret Competition
The British royal family, with their long history of tradition and protocol, have always been a source of fascination for the public. From the lavish ceremonies to the carefully curated public image, there's always something intriguing about the lives of the monarchy. But one aspect of their lives that has remained hidden from the public eye is their internal competition. Yes, you read that right - the royal family has a secret race to see who can rack up the most royal engagements.
In his memoir, Spare, Prince Harry revealed the family's hidden obsession. He wrote, "Though none of us ever spoke about the Court Circular directly, or mentioned it by name, that only created more tension under the surface, which built invisibly as the last day of the calendar year approached. Certain family members had become obsessed, feverishly striving to have the highest number of official engagements recorded in the Circular each year, no matter what, and they'd succeeded largely by including things that weren’t, strictly speaking, engagements."
This hidden competition is not just about the number of engagements, but also about the prestige and status that come with each one. The Court Circular, an online diary that records the royal engagements, has become a symbol of the family's internal power struggle. The more engagements a family member can claim, the more visible and influential they appear.
This obsession with the Court Circular is not new. In fact, it has been going on for decades. King Charles, known for his regimented work ethic, has always been a strong competitor. His son, Prince William, has admitted that his father's work ethic can be overwhelming. "The man never stops," he said in a documentary. "I mean when we were kids there was bags and bags and bags of work that the office just sent to him. We could barely even get to his desk to say goodnight to him."
But who is the hardest-working royal? Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, has often been referred to as the hardest-working royal. She frequently racks up the most royal engagements each year, traveling up and down the country for various tours, banquets, and shows. However, in 2025, it was her brother, King Charles, who took the top spot. According to research conducted by royal expert Patricia Treble for The Mirror, Charles clocked up a total of 532 engagements last year, which was 50 more than his sister Anne.
This internal competition has implications for the family's public image. It raises questions about the true nature of their work and the extent to which they are driven by personal ambition. It also highlights the tension between their public roles and their private lives. While the royal family may present a united front to the public, behind closed doors, they are engaged in a fierce battle for status and recognition.
In conclusion, the royal family's obsession with the Court Circular is a fascinating insight into their internal dynamics. It reveals a hidden world of competition and ambition, where the number of engagements has become a symbol of power and influence. While it may be a secret competition, its impact is felt by the entire family, and it raises important questions about the true nature of their public image and private lives. Personally, I think this hidden competition is a fascinating aspect of the royal family's history, and it highlights the complex dynamics that exist within the monarchy. What makes this particularly fascinating is the way in which it reveals the human side of the royal family, with their own ambitions and insecurities. From my perspective, this internal competition is a reminder that even the most privileged and powerful families are not immune to the human need for recognition and status. One thing that immediately stands out is the way in which the Court Circular has become a symbol of the family's internal power struggle. What many people don't realize is that this competition is not just about the number of engagements, but also about the prestige and status that come with each one. If you take a step back and think about it, it's clear that this internal competition has implications for the family's public image and the way in which they are perceived by the public. This raises a deeper question about the true nature of their work and the extent to which they are driven by personal ambition. A detail that I find especially interesting is the way in which the royal family has managed to keep this competition a secret from the public. What this really suggests is that the royal family is not just a collection of individuals, but a complex system with its own internal dynamics and power structures. In my opinion, this hidden competition is a fascinating insight into the human side of the royal family, and it highlights the complex relationships and power struggles that exist within the monarchy.
