A uniquely-placed expert has issued three royals a stark warning, with the Princess and King out of action due to their respective health issues.

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King Charles’ former butler has called on Zara Tindall, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice to “up their game” and do more to assist with royal duties, in the absence of the monarch and Princess Kate, both of whom are battling serious illnesses.

Despite moves towards a “scaled down” royal family, Grant Harrold, who worked for King Charles from 2004 to 2011, said that that idea will have to go on the “back burner” while two of the most senior members of the family fight cancer.

speaking on behalf of Slingo, said: “What’s interesting is that they haven’t got much of an option. Beatrice and Eugenie are supposed to have their own careers, Zara’s got her own career, and her family too. They’re the kind of Royals that are not technically classed as working royals, if you like.

“I have noted that from time to time they do get called into help, not so much to go and carry out an engagement on their own but sometimes just as backup, and they’ll suddenly turn up with another royal as a plus one.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have been called on to ‘up their game’ and do more royal duties (Image: Getty)

“We could probably see more of that going forward, which is ironic because the King initially spoke about a scaled down royal family but because what’s happened, they’re having to change that idea, put it on the back burner and and actually go, ‘Right what royals have we got there, what what pool have we got, what resources can we call in?’

“I hope it doesn’t get to a point where we’re calling in European royals because we’ve got no royals of our own left…”

Despite noting Zara’s career, as well as the careers of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Mr Harrold said that they need to “up their game” and do more to help The Firm.

He said: “I think April will be a pivotal month, there is a lot going on. The social season starts in March, so you find that it starts to pick up in the spring, that’s when you start seeing more of the Royals again.

“Of course, we’re not going to see much of the King just now, or Kate. The other royals are going to be having to up their game in the meantime.”