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Sir, I have carried out a survey of the official engagements undertaken by the Royal Family during 2007 as reported in the Court Circular.
It is remarkable that the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, in the year of their diamond wedding, have continued their busy working life, with Her Majesty actually increasing the number of engagements compared with those in 2006.
Prince William carried out 16 engagements and Prince Harry 12, which included 5 overseas. The Duchess of Cornwall’s operation and the Countess of Wessex’s pregnancy were the reasons for their fewer official engagements during 2007. The Duke of York was again busy travelling abroad as special representative for trade and investment, which accounted for 75 per cent of his overseas engagements.
I should emphasise that the figures should not be converted into a “league table” of royal performance. All engagements differ as to time and content and there is also the time taken in preparation, whether it be a visit, investiture or speech.
Except for Christmas Day and Easter Day, the Queen never has a day off from the official red boxes that pursue her everywhere.
Tim O’Donovan
Datchet, Berks
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These statistics are just numbers and serve no purpose. The royals frequently tag together a number of connected events to look more busy (e.g. reception followed by lunch =2) and can be there for just a couple of minutes. It is no measure of value for money / performance, as even the author admits.
Rory Webster, London,
Well done Tim.
What do you do in the real world?
Mike Porter, Bristol,