Prince William is reportedly planning to strip princely titles from several non-working royals, including his nephews Archie and Lilibet, and cousins Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice, when he ascends to the throne. According to The Daily Beast, the Prince of Wales intends to use special executive orders to enact this change, marking a significant shift in the royal family’s structure.
A close friend of Prince William claimed that sweeping reforms are part of his vision for the future of the monarchy. These changes would remove princely titles from non-working royals, following in the footsteps of Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. In 2022, Queen Margrethe removed princely titles from four of her grandchildren—Nikolai, Felix, Henrik, and Athena.
The source noted that William is “thinking about Queen Margrethe a lot” as he prepares for his future reign. This new revelation comes shortly after Prince Andrew voluntarily relinquished his royal title of Duke of York, amid ongoing controversy.
Earlier, Prince William shared his thoughts on modernizing the monarchy in a conversation with Canadian actor Eugene Levy for the TV show “Levy’s Travels.” Reflecting on the changes he hopes to bring, he said, “I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda. Change for good. That’s the bit that excites me, the idea of being able to bring some change. Not overly radical change, but changes that I think need to happen.”
The Prince of Wales has been vocal about his desire to protect his family from media intrusion, particularly as he has experienced increasing pressures regarding his children. He also confessed that he sometimes feels “overwhelmed” by family matters, emphasizing that safeguarding his children from excessive public scrutiny is his top priority.
When Prince William becomes king, these plans to modernize the monarchy are likely to have a far-reaching impact on the roles of family members, especially those not directly involved in royal duties. His approach signals a move towards streamlining the royal family and redefining what it means to be a working royal in the modern age.