Royal Biographer Says Prince William Is 'Just Dying To Clean House' After The Andrew Drama
Prince William isn’t one to sit and wait on the sidelines for his turn. It has been reported that William is already playing King, only without the crown on his head. Those close to him have time and again said he’s already thinking about how to reshape the monarchy when his time eventually comes. He is also of the opinion that institutions need a deep tidy-up if they’re going to survive the coming decades.
And apparently, the instinct did not appear overnight. After King Charles’s cancer diagnosis in 2024, William found himself thrust into a more visible leadership role, often acting as the de facto face of the monarchy. According to royal biographer Tina Brown, who spoke on The New York Times’s podcast, The Interview, “He's just dying to clean house, actually.”
Brown spoke candidly about the types of reforms William may have in mind. “Some of the palaces probably have to be turned over to the public. I mean, how much over housing do you need in that family?” she said. Brown noted that she expects serious reform to avoid any Andrew-like situations in the future.
The same opinion has been vocalized by many royal commentators, especially since Charles' diagnosis, who continues to push through public duties despite his illness. The gradual handover of power inside the Palace has become more apparent. The King's reduced pace has created space for William to step forward, and royal commentators argue that the shift isn’t subtle. Daily Mail columnist Maureen Callahan had earlier mentioned, “William's coronation will be a mere formality. This is his monarchy now.”
Callahan’s argument is not isolated. She noted that William has already begun to operate as the monarchy’s central decision-maker, driven by a desire to protect the institution before he officially inherits it. She wrote that he is “already leading the royal family, intent on preserving the realm,” adding that Charles “has all but handed over the crown,” preferring to stay clear of the sorts of crises that have drained the Palace in recent years. William, she suggests, has no such hesitation. “It’s the House of Wales now, and not a moment too soon,” she said.
That determination has been most visible in how William has handled the lingering Andrew saga, which continues to cast a long shadow over Charles’s reign. According to columnist Rob Shuter’s Substack, it was William who pushed for his uncle's 'personal banner' and coat of arms to be stripped from St. George’s Chapel, a step usually reserved for traitors and exiles. Royal sources told Shuter the move amounted to “the final nail in the coffin.”
Shuter stressed why there was a need to do it. “This wasn’t just paperwork — it was symbolic.” He added, “William wanted to send a message: the monarchy is moving forward, and Andrew isn’t part of it.” With Andrew Mountbatten Windsor now reportedly shut out of Windsor, once described as his personal 'sanctuary,' Shuter wrote that the disgraced royal is facing “as close to royal exile as you can get without a passport stamp.”