8 Royals Who Could Have More Important Roles Under King William

Prince William has already said that “change is on [his] agenda” when he becomes King, so it is clear his reign may look a little different. And when a new King comes in, things around him can shift too. Some royals could find themselves with more royal duties, having a much bigger role than they have now.

William could handle his younger children very differently from the way previous generations handled their “spares.” Instead of Charlotte and Louis simply being there to support George, they could be encouraged to have their own roles and place within the family. Royal expert Kinsey Schofield suggested that the future King and Queen are keen on breaking the cycle and changing the ‘heir and spare’ dynamic, saying, “I believe this is where they’re going to break the cycle. I think they’re going to stop with the spare talk, and I think the ‘necessity’ for a spare ends now," Marie Claire reported.

Since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped away from royal life, William and Princess Kate have started to lean more on Edward and Sophie. Royal expert Jennie Bond said the two couples have formed a “tight bond,” adding that the future King and Queen feel they can confide in the couple. Their closeness was also on show at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, where the Edinburghs joined the Wales family and were seen chatting and mingling with George, Charlotte and Louis. And it seems their role within the family is only growing. Body language expert Darren Stanton said, “Sophie and Edward seem to be growing steadily into a more prominent position within the Royal Family.”

Zara is not a working royal and has never needed to be one, but that could actually be part of her appeal to William. The cousins have always been close, and royal author Robert Jobson recently pointed out that Zara is the only royal who can tell William when he's being “pompous,” and he takes it. She has also shown she can still step in for the Crown when needed. As per Tatler, at the 2026 FEI World Championships in Aachen, she represented the British royal stables and led the British carriage alongside members of other European royal families. That mix could make her surprisingly useful to William without ever needing to become a working royal.

Lady Louise and James could be two of the younger royals William turns to if he needs more people around him. They were not raised expecting royal careers, but royal expert Richard Eden has suggested (via the Daily Mail) the siblings could play a “vital role” in the future monarchy. He said, “Lady Louise Windsor and James, the Earl of Wessex, could play a vital role in the future, supporting their cousin Prince William when he eventually succeeds to the throne.” If William does need a few more younger faces to step up, they could be well placed to do it.

Princess Anne is already one of the hardest-working royals, but she could become even more valuable to William once he is King. She has decades of experience, knows the job inside out, and has never been afraid to tell her family what she thinks. William has also spoken warmly about his aunt and her work, so having someone like Anne around could be a huge help as he settles into the role. With a smaller monarchy, her experience could become even harder to replace.