Prince Charles may go against his late father's wishes and deny his younger brother, Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh title as part of his plans to slim down the royal family, an expert has claimed.
And the Mail's Richard Kay claims this could cause upset behind Palace walls as The Prince of Wales and Camilla are not close to Edward and his wife, Sophie Wessex.
It has been reported that the two brothers have not been close since 2001 when Sophie was caught in a newspaper sting.
The Daily Mail writes that some at Clarence House have been "irritated" by a "discreet PR campaign" that has emphasised the Wessex's closeness to the Queen and that they are considered a safe pair of hands.
A figure close to Camilla told the newspaper that the regular description of the Wessexes as 'indispensable' feels "strategic".
While one of Charles's circle added: "Charles is making it clear that his brother may have jumped the gun [over the title of Duke of Edinburgh]. It is not a done deal."
Kay writes: "For all the talk of changing times, Charles's difficulty is appearing to go against his father — and his mother's — wishes. Perhaps, in the end, he will rely on that old mafia phrase: 'It's not personal, it's just business.'"
Charles' plans to mix things up and slim down the monarchy when he becomes king have been widely reported.
He's said to be looking to have a team of seven senior royals - not including Prince Harry, Meghan Markle or Prince Andrew.
Royal author Angela Levin previously told talkRADIO : "Prince Charles has wanted for a very long time to cut the monarchy down to save costs and to make people be worth the money that they got from the taxpayer."
Edward, the Earl of Wessex, is the Queen's youngest child and is her only son that is not a duke.
Following Philip's death in April, the title automatically passed to his eldest son, Charles. However he won't use it as his other title, the Prince of Wales, is far more senior.
It had been expected that Charles would pass the title to Edward when he takes the throne.
In fact, the Queen and Prince Philip said Edward would be awarded the title "in due course" when he married Sophie in 1999.
At the time Buckingham Palace said in a statement: "The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales have also agreed that the Prince Edward should be given the Dukedom of Edinburgh in due course, when the present title held now by Prince Philip eventually reverts to the Crown.”
However according to insiders that may not happen.
A source told the Sunday Times : "The prince is the Duke of Edinburgh as it stands, and it is up to him what happens to the title. It will not go to Edward."
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While another source in close contact with the prince claimed: "Edinburgh won’t go to them [the Wessexes] as far as the prince is concerned.”
A Clarence House spokesman told the Sunday Times: “We do not comment on matters related to the accession.”
Before his death, Prince Philip is said to have personally asked Prince Edward to take on the role of Duke of Edinburgh.
Sophie previously told the Daily Telegraph: “We sat there slightly stunned. He literally came straight in and said, ‘Right. I’d like it very much if you would consider that’.”
The decision was said to have been made made in recognition of Edward's commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, of which he is a trustee. He is also the chairman of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award.
But Edward has previously told the BBC: "It was fine in theory, ages ago when it was sort of a pipe dream of my father’s .... and of course it will depend on whether or not the Prince of Wales, when he becomes king, whether he’ll do that, so we’ll wait and see. So yes, it will be quite a challenge taking that on."
