It’s been five months since Kate Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis and that devastating news affected the royal family both personally and professionally. Senior royals like Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh have picked up the slack as Kate and King Charles III and their spouses have focused on their personal lives.

Now, two non-working royal family members are reportedly being recruited to “relieve Prince William and Princess Kate,” according to GB News. Zara and Mike Tindall, and their three children, Mia, 10, Lena, 6, and Lucas, 3, are not in direct line to the throne, but they may be taking on a more significant role in the royal family since Charles’ “slimmed-down monarchy” plan isn’t working very well. The discussion was reportedly brought up during the royal family’s annual Balmoral summit during their summer vacation.

Mike Tindall and Zara Tindall attend the "Federer: Twelve Final Days" Special Screening at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on June 13, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Kate Green/Getty Images)

“The strategy now is to move away from focusing on what the Sussexes are doing and place an emphasis on the next generation of royals,” a source explained to the Express. That means bulking up the roster so that William and Kate don’t carry the entire burden of the palace. “The future of the Royal Family doesn’t just hinge on the Wales family, but also on other members of the Royal Family that hold a visible profile in this country and around the world. It’s all about building a brand and the family recognizes that.”

The inclusion of Zara and Mike might be a result of William’s “brotherly relationship” with his cousin’s husband. “Mike is a pretty straight guy,” former palace press secretary Dickie Arbiter told The Telegraph in 2023. “He’s down to earth, and William is too. We’ve seen [this] time and again in William and Mike’s interactions. They are a proper family. They’re not playing at it.”

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The decision to let Mike and Zara step into the royal spotlight is curious, though, since Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are right there with their official titles. Perhaps Prince Andrew’s controversies cast a long shadow over the palace, making his daughters’ promotion downright impossible. The Tindalls will likely be called upon for royal moments that Kate and William cannot attend while King Charles looks to rebuild his legacy after a tumultuous few years.