ROYALS ON 'BRINK OF COLLAPSE'

Warning to Charles ahead of historic day. Younger members must take bigger roles

- David Williamson

THE Royal Family is in danger of "abolishing itself by stealth" by spending less time engaging with the people of Britain, a shock report reveals.

King Charles has been warned that the monarchy is at risk of becoming "too distant" from the nation it seeks to serve after a dramatic slump in the number of public engagements.

Death, scandal and resignation have been blamed for a 40 percent fall in ribbon-cutting and hand-shaking duties over the past decade, says the study by an influential think tank.

And it predicts that if missing junior royals fail to do more to support the new King the monarchy could easily "collapse".

The stark warning comes just three weeks before the eyes of millions will be on the King and Queen Camilla for the Coronation.

The spectacular ceremony and celebrations will allow him to lead the royals into a new chapter in their long history - but the bombshell report raises concern there is much work to do.

The tally of UK-based engagements has slumped from 3,338 in 2014 to just 2,079 last year, according to the analysis by Civitas.

And last night royal author Margaret Holder backed the report, warning that a lack of a public presence could "herald the demise of the institution". Queen Elizabeth II famously believed she had to be "seen to be believed".

But the think tank is concerned the Royal Family could "disappear from public view".