Prince William stepping up power, leads tributes as Princess of Wales celebrates 43rd birthday
The Prince of Wales is putting his foot down on matters crucial to the royal family’s future, as he issued a heartfelt birthday message to his wife, Princess Catherine.
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The Prince of Wales, 42, is “seizing” more power from his cancer-stricken father, King Charles, as he nears his ascension to the throne, according to a new report.
Prince William, who is next in line to become king, is said to be putting his foot down on several key decisions about the Firm’s long-term future.
Among those, is declaring that his estranged brother, Prince Harry, and his wife, Meghan Markle, as well as his scandal-plagued uncle, Prince Andrew, are to remain on the outer, InTouch reports.
“It’s no secret that anyone who pushes back against him will be swiftly shown the door,” a palace insider said.
“He’s not willing to take any nonsense and the word is he’s already on his way to being the toughest ruler the family has ever seen.”
Sources claimed to the outlet that William has “never been more influential” than he has been in recent months, and isn’t shying away from “making decisions that he feels will benefit the Crown in the long run.”
As his father, 76, continues to undergo cancer treatment, it appears the king is “bestowing more responsibility on [William] and by all accounts is acknowledging that his time to rule will be sooner, rather than later,” the source adds.
It’s said that the top item on William’s agenda is improving the royal family’s public image, which had taken several hits in recent years following the Duke of York’s several scandals, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s swift exit from royal life.
William is reportedly looking to tighten the royal purse strings and cut unnecessary spending within the Firm, which could come as bad news for Andrew, who has been reliant on his brother’s cash since 2019.
“[William] wants expenses to be monitored closely, and any fat trimmed straight away,” the insider said. “He doesn’t want there to be any sense that special perks are being handed out to the royals.”
“He’s all about the environment, so he’s pushing hard to be front and centre in that respect and has put out this edict that the rest of the family needs to get on board with being as green as possible. Private flights and that sort of thing are being frowned on.”
“The days of wasteful spending and overconsumption are ending now that William is at the helm,” the source added.
The Waleses have faced a difficult 2024 after William’s wife, Kate Middleton, received her diagnosis following a planned abdominal surgery last January.
The princess subsequently spent much of the past year behind closed doors as she underwent treatment, prompting Prince William to reduce his workload and spend more time at home.
After Catherine announced that she was cancer-free in September 2024, the duo made a gradual return to public-facing duties.
As the Princess of Wales eases into 2025, the palace has already kickstarted plans for Prince William’s ascension to the throne.
Last month, it was reported that King Charles held a private meeting with Catherine after the palace kickstarted the royal heirs’ path to the throne.
It comes as Prince William led birthday tributes to Catherine, Princess of Wales, with a heartfelt post on social media where he described her as the “most incredible wife and mother”.
The 43-year-old was glowing in the photo the Prince of Wales used in his tribute, where Catherine can be seen posing casually with her hands in her pockets and leaning up against a plain backdrop. She’s pictured in jeans, a white top and a checkered scarf.
Prince Williams acknowledged Princess Catherine’s difficult journey over the past 12 months after she was diagnosed with cancer last January.
“To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable,” he wrote.
“George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you. Happy Birthday, Catherine. We love you.”
The royal family took to X on Thursday to share a stunning picture of the Princess of Wales smiling at Sandringham on Christmas Day as she met with fans.
The sweet snap was accompanied with the message, “Happy Birthday to The Princess of Wales!” along with a birthday cake emoji.
It’s believed Kate will be spending her birthday with her family at her home in Windsor.
Her 43rd birthday comes almost a year after she was diagnosed with cancer.
Kate was admitted to hospital on January 16 to undergo planned abdominal surgery.
She spent nearly two weeks in the London Clinic after undergoing the major operation before returning home to recover.
It was then she was told that tests had revealed she had cancer.
The Princess of Wales started chemotherapy treatment, which she completed in September.
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Originally published as Prince William stepping up power, leads tributes as Princess of Wales celebrates 43rd birthday
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