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Reports in multiple U.K. outlets indicate that Prince Charles is in preparation to take over as the head of the British monarchy once his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, turns 95 in 18 months.

British outlet the Daily Mail says Charles met with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, yesterday at Sandringham to discuss the move, which comes on the back of Charles’ role in forcibly “retiring” Prince Andrew from public life. Andrew has been forced to step aside over recent scandals surrounding his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein.

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The Express is reporting that Charles will be helped in managing royal affairs by Prince William. The queen has already, in recent times, been delegating duties to the senior pair, her immediate heirs. The new move will see this taken a step further.

Speaking with the Express, the Daily Mirror’s royal editor Russell Myers said:

“This really does represent a significant changing of the guard. That’s certainly what I’m hearing here at Buckingham Palace. The two other senior members of the royal family are taking over responsibility from the Queen.

“By seeking the Duke of Edinburgh’s advice as well you see this really changing to them really taking a leadership role.”

Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, has in recent months been in the spotlight for his increasingly scandalous relationship with the dead sex offender Epstein. The final straw for the royals came when Andrew was involved in what has been described as a “car crash” television interview with the BBC, on its Newsnight program. In that interview, his denials about the nature of his friendship with Epstein drew widespread ridicule. Senior royals are said to have been firmly against the prince’s television appearance — concerns that were reportedly ignored.

Andrew stepped down from public duties last Wednesday, saying the controversy had caused major disruption to the royal family’s work. Queen Elizabeth’s second son denies an allegation that he had sex with a 17-year-old girl procured for him by Epstein, who killed himself in a U.S. prison in August while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.