They were Senior Royals. It's a loose definition, but they are/were supposed to be all full-time apart from Prince Edward/Sophie that only sometimes step-in (Andy 'stepped-down' not that he ever did much in any case).
H&M
wanted to be Senior Royals. Big show of it
before they got married.
It's my understanding they thought it was like pick-&-mix at a sweet shop: take all the money, privileges and engagements/charities/patronages you want
and leave the ones you don't quite fancy (presumably for others to deal with).
That wasn't on, an unworkable model. You certainly can't pop-over from your Cali faux-castle to open a garden fete or attend a premiere and fly off into the smog-filled sunset again hours later, whilst lecturing on climate change
and eat/have all the cake forever and ever
Name me one other job that works that way?