Prince William ‘Not Done’ Shrinking Working Royals
Prince William is being portrayed as determined to further reduce the number of working royals, with a report claiming he wants to sideline family members he believes are benefiting from the royal name without taking on enough official responsibility. The claims, attributed to an unnamed source, suggest the Prince of Wales is focused on reshaping the future royal team as he prepares for his eventual reign.
National Enquirer claimed a source said Prince William has “already started” by pushing Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie further out of the working fold, alongside Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, and that “there are plenty more he has his eyes on.”
The same account says the approach is not solely about removing people, but about selecting “strong players” he trusts to support the institution, with the source describing the Prince as intent on building a team he “actually believes in.” The report also suggests Prince William and Princess Kate have taken a particular interest in James Mountbatten-Windsor, the son of Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie, with the source characterising the 18-year-old as “grounded” and “no drama.”
The claims come as wider attention continues to focus on Prince Andrew’s standing within the family, including questions around titles, roles and future visibility; BritpopNews has previously examined why Prince Andrew remains in the line of succession despite his withdrawal from public duties.
Neither Kensington Palace nor Buckingham Palace has publicly commented on the specific allegations. Any shift in who carries out official engagements under the Crown would have long-term implications for how the monarchy presents itself, especially as Prince William and Princess Kate look to balance public service with a smaller, more streamlined team.
