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As King Charles gradually steps back from royal duties due to his health, Prince William has quietly begun to assert greater influence within the Palace, particularly in the aftermath of Prince Andrew’s scandals. Moreover, experts have noted that William is already acting as the de facto leader of the Royal Family . Despite his illness King Charles has continued to fulfill royal duties. Nevertheless, he is reportedly taking a step back, allowing his eldest son to take on a more prominent role. Royal commentator Maureen Callahan, writing for The Daily Mail , asserted that “William's coronation will be a mere formality. This is his monarchy now,” emphasising that William is "already leading the Royal Family, intent on preserving the realm.” She further observed that King Charles “has all but handed over the crown”, choosing to avoid the controversies that have troubled the Palace, while William is “far less squeamish about getting his hands dirty”. Callahan wrote: “It’s the House of Wales now, and not a moment too soon.” With ongoing scandals, particularly involving Prince Andrew, the 43-year-old prince has taken decisive steps to distance the monarchy from further damage. Royal expert Rob Shuter noted on his Substack that it was William who insisted on the removal of Prince Andrew's "personal banner" and coat of arms from St. George’s Chapel. The gesture is typically reserved for “traitors and exiles”, and described by royal sources as "the final nail in the coffin". Shuter explained: “This wasn’t just paperwork, it was symbolic". He added: “Prince William wanted to send a message: the monarchy is moving forward, and Andrew isn’t part of it.” Shuter also remarked that Windsor, once Andrew’s “sanctuary”, has now excluded him, making it “as close to royal exile as you can get without a passport stamp”. This action followed awkward family encounters, including Andrew’s attempt to publicly approach William at the Duchess of Kent’s funeral, which was widely criticised and ultimately backfired. As new scrutiny loomed with the release of Virginia Giuffre’s memoir, William reportedly acted quickly to address the situation. Callahan also pointed out that King Charles, known for his reluctance to confront conflict, "may be conflict-averse but appears to have nonetheless allowed Prince William to do what he can’t, or won’t”. Meanwhile, tensions have been rising at Royal Lodge, where Andrew and Sarah Ferguson have lived rent-free for 17 years, but recent developments suggest this arrangement may soon end, according to The Royal Observer. A recent “family summit” at the residence was notably attended only by Princess Beatrice, with Princess Eugenie absent. For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters .
