Prince William's surprising choice for right-hand man as King
Prince William has reportedly thought long and hard about who will be by his side when it's his turn as King.
Royal expert Jennie Bond has revealed the 43-year-old's surprising pick for his royal court when he becomes monarch.
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Prince William, Prince of Wales is thoughtful during a visit as The Royal Foundation launches a new community impact partnership with Street Soccer Scotland at Leith Community Centre on May 21, 2025 in Leith, Scotland Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The author told The Mirror that "William has always thought carefully about his future. He's already picturing who he'll rely upon when his time as King comes."
Alongside his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales and children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, William has his pick of his cousins to help him while he is on the throne.
One surprising candidate he is hoping to keep close is his cousin Zara Tindall.
The daughter of Princess Anne, the royal would be expected to help out with all things racing, being a former Olympian.
"Zara is relatable, respected, and very well-liked. Bringing her into the fold makes perfect sense, especially as William seeks support from family he deeply trusts," said Bond.
Unlike his father King Charles, who relies heavily on Zara's mother and his younger sister Princess Anne, William will likely not have the same support from his one and only sibling.
Bond said, "Harry would have played a significant part in William's reign. He was his wingman, the trusted sibling William could rely on."
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Prince William is likely to lean on his cousin Zara Tindall during his reign. PA Images via Getty Images
Prince Harry left his role as a senior royal family member in 2020, two years after wedding Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
He has since moved to California, planting new roots with his family, including son Prince Archie and daughter Princess Lilibet.
Also adding fuel to the fire was his best-selling memoir Spare, in which the Duke of Sussex detailed many points of tension with the British royal family – including his older brother, with whom he reportedly had a fist-fight with.
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"This estrangement is a great loss for William. Harry would have been his main confidant, someone he could genuinely depend upon," Bond said, adding that their relationship could have mirrored the one their father has with Princess Anne, who is widely acknowledged as the hardest-working royal.
recently, Prince Harry has spoken about wanting reconciliation with the family he was born into but the expert says "William seems to have made peace with moving on without Harry's involvement.
"William is pragmatic and understands the reality. It's heartbreaking, but he recognises he must move forward for the good of the institution."
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William has lost his wingman Prince Harry. Getty
Following his father's example of a streamlined monarchy, the father-of-three is already laying the groundwork with a focus on projects surrounding sustainability, homelessness, and mental health.
"William knows his reign must resonate with the public. He'll choose family who help him present a relatable, stable, and modern monarchy."
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