Not since the Queen’s uncle Edward abdicated has the royal family been so vulnerable as it is now.
The Queen, who turns 96 in April, will most likely be on light duties for the rest of her life, leaving her son Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, to pick up the slack – even though at 73 and 74, they’re no spring chickens either.
The Queen is facing difficult decisions about the future of the royal family.
(Image: Getty)This was made painfully clear last week, when both the Prince of Wales and Camilla were forced into isolation after they both tested positive for COVID-19 – Charles for the second time – with palace spokespeople tight-lipped on just how sick they were.
“It came as a blow to the Queen, who also had to isolate as she’d been around Charles before his positive test,” says a source.
“It made her realise just how fragile the line of succession is, especially given her and Charles’ ages.”
Woman’s Day can reveal that Her Majesty has taken action and summoned the second-in-line – her beloved grandson Prince William – and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, to her side in Windsor Castle last week.
“They called it a socially distant meeting, but it was really a crisis talk,” says a source.
The Queen is said to be leaning on her beloved grandson Prince William and his wife, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.
(Image: Getty)“The Queen warned William and Catherine that the Cambridges must prepare to be king and queen, possibly in the very near future.”
William, 39, had only just returned from a brief tour to the Middle East, which was largely overshadowed by his brother Prince Harry’s appearance at the Super Bowl in LA, and his uncle Prince Andrew making a reported $23 million settlement with his sex abuse accuser in a New York civil court, but he dropped everything straight away.
“William is always a huge support to the Queen – he has become one of the few people she truly trusts.
“He’s been an angel during this whole Andrew business, making hard decisions so she as a mother didn’t have to,” says a source.
WATCH: Prince Andrew’s shock legal settlement explained. Story continues after video.
“But now that it’s over, William’s still playing the role of protector. He’s warned the Queen that Andrew can no longer be trusted with anything – from royal roles to family secrets.
“William feels Andrew is a desperate man and has betrayed them all, including his own mother.” And in return Her Majesty has been just as frank.
“The Queen has asked him to step up even further over the next few weeks, to ensure he and Catherine are extremely visible to the public.
“Kate, of course, fully agreed with her and is ready once again to take on more than her fair share.”
