The British royal household has been working with a reasonably restricted crew, as of late. With Kate Middleton at present taking a break from the general public eye (with minimal exceptions like Trooping the Color), Princess Anne recovering from an damage and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over in America, the royal roster is actually smaller than it as soon as was. In reality, the fam has even needed to name within the reserves, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie, for a lot of latest occasions.However massive crew or not, the royals have nonetheless been retaining fairly busy. And yesterday, it grew to become clear {that a} member of the supporting crew was being requested to step up—and it positively caught my eye.The royals shared the above picture on their social media account and one thing instantly felt off. As a royals reporter, it was unusual—and nearly surreal—to see Prince Edward standing within the spot Princess Catherine usually occupies. Clearly, her absence is comprehensible…however nonetheless an odd feeling.The household captioned the submit, “The King and Queen with The Prince of Wales (often known as The Duke of Rothesay when in Scotland) and The Duke of Edinburgh following the Thistle Service at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh at the moment.”Would Catherine have been within the picture had she been current? It is onerous to say for positive, however she most positively would have been in attendance on the occasion. The picture is putting, however stands in giant distinction to the conventional group of 4 (effectively, regular since Meghan and Harry break up), Charles, Camilla, William and Catherine.Take, for instance, their attractive portrait from December.The picture hearkens again to an easier—and happier—time, earlier than each the monarch and the princess have been recognized with most cancers and whereas the royal A-team was nonetheless working at full capability.It is moments like these that royal stans like myself are grateful for the backup crew, but additionally sending their best possible to King Charles and Princess Catherine.Keep up-to-date on each breaking royal household story by subscribing right here.CHARLES SPENCER SHARES STUNNING PHOTO OF SISTER PRINCESS DIANA ON WHAT WOULD’VE BEEN HER 63RD BIRTHDAY