Prince William is reportedly looking to shake up the monarchy when he becomes king. Photo / Getty Images
Prince William is reportedly looking to shake up the monarchy when he becomes king. Photo / Getty Images
Prince William is reportedly considering a major update to the monarchy’s structure when his time comes to be king.
Among the changes the Prince of Wales, 42, is considering is bringing two lesser-known royals into the fold as working members of the firm, according to the Scottish Daily Express.
Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh’s two children – Lady Louise Windsor, 21, and James, Earl of Wessex, 17 – have both stayed largely out of the public eye, despite their proximity to the throne.
Sophie and Edward have given their children James and Louise the choice of whether to keep their royal titles or not. Photo / Getty Images
Their parents opted to forgo the “HRH” titles they were offered at birth in favour of a more “normal” upbringing, instead allowing them the opportunity to decide for themselves once they turned 18.
Unsurprisingly, Lady Louise turned it down once she hit the milestone age, and it’s expected that her brother will do the same when he turns 18 in December.
Given that, it could be a tough job for William to convince them to step up into official, more high-profile roles – but if they do so, they will begin receiving public funding in exchange for taking on public engagements representing the Crown.
Prince William may ask his cousins Louise and James to step up into official royal roles. Photo / Getty Images
Their inclusion would help share the load divided between the current team, which has had its numbers significantly reduced in recent years after the departure of Prince Harry, Meghan and the deaths of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.
The strain of that slimmed-down monarchy was especially evident last year, with the King and Princess of Wales both taking a significant chunk of time off to deal with their cancer diagnoses.
Meanwhile, Sophie opened up about her and Edward’s approach to their children’s upbringing in 2020, telling the Sunday Times Magazine that they’d instilled in the pair the “understanding” that “they are very likely to have to work for a living”.
“Hence we made the decision not to use HRH titles. They have them and can decide to use them from 18, but I think it’s highly unlikely,” she told the publication.
“What’s normal? They go to a regular school [they both attend top independent schools]. They go to friends for sleepovers and parties.
“At weekends we do lots of dog walking and stay with friends. I guess not everyone’s grandparents live in a castle, but where you are going is not the important part, or who they are.”
