Prince William Is Reportedly Getting Ready To Become Heir Apparent To The Throne

The British monarchy’s rules of succession work like clockwork; everyone knows their place in the line. Yet royal family fans would no doubt still find it exciting to learn that Prince William is reportedly getting ready to play the role as heir apparent by the time Prince Charles becomes the monarch after Queen Elizabeth.

One of the ways Prince William is preparing for his role as heir to the throne is by being present in the Duchy of Cornwall’s secret meetings, according to Daily Star Online. This makes sense because by the time Prince Charles ascends the throne, the Duchy’s estate, estimated to be worth around £1billion, will naturally be handed over to William.

In fact, it was William who hosted the Duchy of Cornwall’s third meeting this year. The Duke of Cambridge held the latest meeting at his Kensington Palace home on May 22, 2019.

While it may appear that Prince William is now accelerating his preparations for becoming an heir, his training goes a long way back. In fact, it was Queen Elizabeth herself who trained him when he was still a teenager for his future role as a monarch.

“When William became a teenager, she would have him at Windsor Castle and would open the state boxes and guide him through papers,” historian Robert Lacey revealed. “It was William’s constitutional education.”

Part of the reason why Her Majesty was more hands-on in training William compared to her son Prince Charles is that she is closer to her grandson than to her son. “There has always been a special closeness between William and the Queen, and she has taken a particular interest in him,” the historian added. “It’s no secret that she and Charles have had a prickly relationship at times.”

Constitutional experts were also called in to tutor the young prince, which includes briefings with former Prime Minister Sir John Major. The prince was also sent on solo foreign tours to Commonwealth countries.

“William is preparing to become Prince of Wales (and King) through his current duties as second-in-line to the throne,” Royal Central editor Charlie Proctor said. “He is championing causes he cares about, is holding meetings and audiences with various groups, and is being advised by senior aides.”

Of course, there is no official announcement yet as to when Queen Elizabeth might be stepping down. But for the ever-ready royal family, it’s always a good thing to be prepared.