Reports: Prince Charles in preparation to take over as head of British monarchy

Reports in multiple U.K. outlets indicate that Prince Charles is in preparation to take over as the head of the British monarchy once his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, turns 95 in 18 months.

British outlet the Daily Mail says Charles met with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, yesterday at Sandringham to discuss the move, which comes on the back of Charles’ role in forcibly “retiring” Prince Andrew from public life. Andrew has been forced to step aside over recent scandals surrounding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

The Express is reporting that Charles will be helped in managing royal affairs by Prince William. The queen has already, in recent times, been delegating duties to the senior pair, her immediate heirs. The new move will see this taken a step further.

Speaking with the Express, the Daily Mirror’s royal editor Russell Myers said:

“This really does represent a significant changing of the guard. That’s certainly what I’m hearing here at Buckingham Palace. The two other senior members of the royal family are taking over responsibility from the Queen.

“By seeking the Duke of Edinburgh’s advice as well you see this really changing to them really taking a leadership role.”

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has in recent months been in the spotlight for his increasingly scandalous relationship with the dead sex offender Epstein. The final straw for the royals came when Andrew was involved in what has been described as a “car crash” television interview with the BBC, on its Newsnight program. In that interview, his denials about the nature of his friendship with Epstein drew widespread ridicule. Senior royals are said to have been firmly against the prince’s television appearance — concerns that were reportedly ignored.

Andrew stepped down from public duties last Wednesday, saying the controversy had caused major disruption to the royal family’s work. Queen Elizabeth’s second son denies an allegation that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl procured for him by Epstein, who killed himself in a U.S. prison in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Reports now indicate the Queen will bow out at 95, as her husband Prince Philip did before her, and Charles’ direct handling of the Andrew scandal is being seen as a sign that he will be in charge going forward.

“The scandal surrounding Andrew and Epstein gave Charles an opportunity to step in to show that he can run The Firm. No one is bigger than the institution of the Royal Family. Not even Andrew, the Queen’s favourite son,” a source told U.K. tabloid the Sun. “Charles recognised that and acted decisively — like the king he may well soon be. This was the moment when Charles stepped up as Prince Regent, the Shadow King.”

The role of Prince Regent would see Charles run things on a daily basis, while his mother fades into the background (but remains in her role as overall monarch).

Charles, the Daily Mail reports, made a point of moving quickly to ensure that Andrew was sidelined. He has not sought a direct confrontation with Andrew, the outlet reports, but has made the strength of his feelings known.

The revelations surrounding Andrew have even impacted campaigning for Britain’s parliamentary election, set for Dec. 12. In a televised debate last Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the monarchy was “beyond reproach,” but Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn said there were questions to be answered.

Andrew is the eighth royal in line to the throne.

— with files from Reuters