Princess Charlotte set to take the Queen’s Duchess of Edinburgh title

The Wales’ daughter is in line to take a title formerly held by the Queen, as disgraced Prince Andrew is left fuming over a ministerial decision.

Princess Charlotte could become the Duchess of Edinburgh, a title formerly held by her great grandmother Queen Elizabeth II.

Prince Edward was expected to become the Duke of Edinburgh after his father Prince Philip died last year but King Charles is reportedly keen for it to go to his granddaughter instead of his younger brother.

A source told the Daily Mail: “Discussions are underway, but the favoured outcome for the King is that this title ought to go to Princess Charlotte.

“It would be a fitting way to remember the Queen – who, of course, had the title Duchess of Edinburgh – and a way for His Majesty to honour the line of succession.”

Catherine, Princess of Wales with her children Princess Charlotte and Prince George during the Queen’s funeral in September. Picture: Getty Images.

The daughter of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales is the first female member of the royal family who won’t have her place in the succession line altered by the birth of her younger brother Prince Louis.

“It is constitutionally significant that Charlotte should be given such a corresponding title, because it is not beyond the realms of possibility that she will accede the throne if, for example, Prince George does not have children,” the source said.

In 2013 royal rules were changed so girls could not be bumped down the line of succession by their younger brothers.

Princess Charlotte could soon be given the title of Duchess of Edinburgh. Picture: Getty Images.

PRINCE ANDREW ‘FUMING’ AFTER LOSING ARMED GUARD

Prince Andrew has reportedly been left fuming with ministers after being told his security detail, which is understood to cost £3 million ($A5.38 million) a year, would be cut in December.

When Prince Andrew was stripped of his working royal duties by the late Queen in January in the wake of the Jeffrey Epstein scandal, so too were some of his entitlements, including his taxpayer-funded armed police guards.

Prince Andrew’s taxpayer-funded security detail will be axed in December. Picture: Getty Images.

A source told the Sun: “He is going to write to the Home Office and the Met Police to complain about losing his taxpayer-funded security.”

The Duke of York stepped down from public life in 2019 over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The disgraced royal had been vying to return to royal life prior to the Queen’s death but this latest news could be another indicator of King Charles’ position on his brother’s role in the family.

CAMILLA SCRAPS TRADITION WITH BOLD MOVE

The Queen Consort has parted with centuries of tradition swapping the role of lady-in-waiting at Buckingham Palace and replacing it with six “companions” who will accompany her on royal and foreign duties.

Camilla has taken the step of scrapping the role and replacing it with an entirely new one and among her entourage is childhood friend whose daughter introduced Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

It was Violet von Westenholz who reportedly decided that the Prince would be a perfect fit for the American Suits actress.

Her mother Jane is named as one of Camilla’s new “companions” and her father, Lord von Westenholz, is a former Olympic skier and close friend of King Charles. Jane has led the restoration of Dumfries House, a personal project of the Monarch.

Meghan Markle and Violet Von Westenholz in 2016. Picture: Meghan Markle/Instagram.

Miss von Westenholz, the public relations director for the Ralph Lauren fashion label, was working with Ms Markle at the end of June 2018, just a few days before the blind date that changed the course of royal history and decided to arrange for the now Duke and Duchess to meet.

Last night the Palace named the other five companions Sarah Troughton, Fiona the Marchioness of Lansdowne, an interior designer, Lady Katharine Brooke and Baroness Carlyn Chisholm, a Conservative peer.

The sixth is Camilla’s close friend Lady Sarah Keswick, whose husband, Sir Chips Keswick, retired as chairman of Arsenal football club in 2020.

All have been fiercely loyal to Camilla.

A Palace source said they will receive a nominal fee to cover their expenses in the same way as ladies-in-waiting.

They are to provide Her Majesty with support and company.

The ladies-in-waiting combined the role of companion, advisor and secretary to the Queen and would accompany the monarch on royal trips and tours.

All the women are among Camilla’s close entourage and that of the King’s.

Camilla has hand picked six “companions” to replace the traditional ladies in waiting. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images.

Lady Lansdowne, 68, is an interior designer with a sharp sense for fashion. She is known professionally as ‘Fiona Shelburne’. Her husband Charles, the Marquess of Lansdowne, is one of the King’s closest friends.

Lady Lansdowne is the chatelaine of Bowood House in Wiltshire – close to Camilla’s private country estate.

Lady Brooke – daughter of Lady Susan Hussey, who is a former lady-in-waiting of the late Queen – is a prominent figure in horse racing.

Sarah Troughton, 69, is the Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire – the first woman to hold the post since its creation almost 500 years ago. She is also the late Queen’s cousin and appeared in the ITV documentary Camilla's Country Life to mark the Queen Consort’s 75th birthday earlier this year.

And Lady Sarah is the Queen Consort’s oldest friend and is married to Sir Chips Keswick, the former chairman of Hambros bank and ex-director of Arsenal Football Club. Having a wicked sense of humour, she is described as ‘very funny’ and a ‘great draw at dinner time’ by friends close to her.

Former nurse Baroness Chisholm is a life peer, having previously represented the Conservatives in the House of Lords. A fan of horse racing, she has previously attended Royal Ascot with the Charles and Camilla and, before the royal couple quit, used to go fox hunting with them too.

The six will continue to assist the King in hosting formal occasions at Buckingham Palace.

Camilla has also appointed her equerry – Major Ollie Plunket, of The Rifles, who will look after her diary and accompany her at official events.

Originally published as Princess Charlotte set to take the Queen’s Duchess of Edinburgh title