Prince William 'to make changes to royal family' following 'terrible' blows King Charles has had to face
The monarchy and the king have endured a tough time recently
Prince William is reportedly preparing to introduce significant changes to the monarchy when he eventually becomes king, following what insiders describe as a deeply challenging period for King Charles.
Charles ascended the throne in September 2022 after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II. He was formally crowned the following year alongside Queen Camilla.
However, his reign has since been marked by a series of personal and institutional crises that have placed strain on the royal family.
Prince William set to ‘make changes’ following ‘terrible’ period for King Charles
A royal source told The i Paper that Charles has endured “so many terrible things” during his reign so far.
They pointed to the ongoing fallout from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s royal departure, alongside serious health battles within the family.
King Charles announced his cancer diagnosis in February 2024. Meanwhile, a month later, his daughter-in-law Princess Kate revealed that she was undergoing chemotherapy after a planned abdominal surgery showed cancer cells.
In more recent news, the monarchy has been overshadowed by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s past ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Last October, King Charles stripped his younger brother of his royal titles and honours amid public backlash. Last week, Andrew was taken into custody on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
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The insider added that both the king’s cancer diagnosis and the Princess of Wales’s own treatment created an especially difficult chapter for the monarchy.
According to sources, these experiences are shaping Prince William’s long-term vision for the future Crown.
“The big changes will come with William,” the source claimed, as reported by GB News. “The challenge is bringing about gradual change in an institution that is supposed to represent continuity.”
William himself previously hinted at this approach during a televised conversation with Canadian actor Eugene Levy.
During a surprise appearance on Levy’s The Reluctant Traveler, the future king revealed that “change is on my agenda“.
“Change for good. I embrace that and I enjoy that change. I don’t fear it,” William told Eugene last year. “That’s the bit that excites me. The idea of being able to bring some change.”
Prince William as king
Behind the scenes, some of those changes are already taking shape.
Prince William and Princess Kate relocated with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, to Forest Lodge in Windsor in late 2025, a move widely viewed as symbolic of a quieter, more family-focused monarchy.
The property is understood to play a central role in William’s future plans.
Reports have suggested he favours Windsor over Buckingham Palace as a working royal base.
The move followed an emotionally demanding period for the Wales family.
Kate underwent preventative chemotherapy after cancer was discovered following abdominal surgery in 2024. In January 2025, she confirmed that she was in remission.
In an article last month, Daily Mail Royal Editor Rebecca English suggested the future king is likely to scale back royal pageantry, describing plans for a “simplification” of more “archaic” traditions, including shorter ceremonies.
Public engagements could also shift in style, with fewer ceremonial ribbon-cutting appearances and a stronger focus on more meaningful, in-depth work.
However, insiders stressed that William and Kate remain “traditionalists”. Therefore, cornerstone events such as Trooping the Colour and future coronations are expected to remain firmly in place.
Royal Insider has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.
Read more: Prince William’s ‘warning’ to Princess Kate on BAFTAs red carpet decoded
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