SLIMMED-DOWN ROYAL CONTINGENT

Charles wants fewer of The Firm on the public payroll – and some of his work has already been done for him. Harry has removed himself from royal working life and Charles’ brother Prince Andrew has been excluded from it thanks to his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.

But other close members of the family will take a step back too – something that was evident on the Buckingham Palace balcony during the queen’s jubilee when the monarch was surrounded only by Charles, Camilla, William, Kate and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

“This is Charles’ vision of the future: a monarchy revolving around himself as king and his successors, with few peripheral figures,” the Daily Mail’s Richard Kay says.

“His sleeker, more finely focused monarchy isn’t intended to be self-serving. His rationale is protection and survival of the monarchy itself and cost has become a major factor in Charles’ thinking – especially how the precious institution is perceived by the people.

“He’s well aware that a hardpressed public is anxious to see value for money in the monarchy as they are in other areas of national life.”

The king is also said to be keen to monetise The Firm’s vast portfolio of properties. He wants to open some of the royal homes to the public – for example, Buckingham Palace should be available for visits all year round, not just the two months it currently is.