Prince William is ‘the real boss of the royal family’

While the king remains head of state and continues to fulfill public duties, royal experts told us that the monarchy has entered a transition phase in which William’s influence is becoming increasingly visible.

Questions surrounding the future of disgraced ex-Prince Andrew, 66, relationships with Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan Markle, 44, and the wider direction of the royal family have all fueled speculation that the future king is exerting all his authority over the monarchy behind the scenes.

A palace source told us: ‘There has been a noticeable shift in recent years. William is no longer simply seen as the heir patiently waiting in the wings for his moment. Increasingly, he helps shape the strategic direction of the monarchy and has a much greater influence on major decisions than many people realize.

‘No one is suggesting he is trying to overshadow the king. On the contrary, William has enormous respect for his father and remains deeply aware of the constitutional hierarchy. But he is also a future monarch with strong beliefs about what the royal family should look like in the coming decades, and he is increasingly confident in communicating those views behind closed doors. Many say he is now the ‘real boss’ of the royal family.

The insider added: ‘There is growing recognition within royal circles that the institution is already beginning to evolve in ways that reflect William’s priorities. He thinks long-term and focuses on the future relevance, reputation and stability of the monarchy. While Charles remains firmly in charge, William’s fingerprints are increasingly visible on the decisions being made, and many see this period as the start of a gradual transition to the next government.”