Prince William is reportedly taking a more prominent role in decision-making within the royal family, according to royal experts. The Prince of Wales is said to be increasingly influential in key matters, including those involving his uncle, Prince Andrew.
This week, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were reportedly banned from Royal Ascot, a decision in which William is understood to have played a part. The move reportedly left the sisters "completely blindsided". Royal expert Andrew Lownie commented: "William, I think, is calling more of the shots now. So there's definitely a change going on."
Andrew, who denies any wrongdoing, was stripped of his royal titles and removed from Royal Lodge earlier this year. His daughters have maintained a low public profile since his arrest in February. Lownie noted that the decision to exclude them from Ascot was "interesting" and suggested a deliberate distancing.
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond suggested that Beatrice and Eugenie, who are not working royals, might consider dropping their HRH titles. "Now that their father has been stripped of his titles and their mother can no longer use hers, they might like to quietly drop the use of theirs," she said.
Reports from last October indicated that William was decisively "calling the shots" to protect King Charles from criticism over his reluctance to act against Andrew. The Prince of Wales is believed to be keen on changing public attitudes toward the monarchy.
