[imagesource:freemalaysiatoday]

Amid King Charles III’s ongoing drama with Prince Harry, whispers are swirling about tension brewing with his other son.

While Charles holds the throne for now, William, Prince of Wales, is poised to inherit it. But if the royal grapevine is to be believed, the handover might not be as smooth as the monarchy would hope.

A father-son power struggle appears to be bubbling up, long before William gets his chance to wear the crown.

As The List notes, in early November, William told The Times that his take on being a royal is quite different from his father’s way of doing things.

“I’m trying to do it differently and I’m trying to do it for my generation,” he said. He elaborated, explaining,  “… to give you more of an understanding around it, I’m doing it with maybe a smaller ‘r’ in the royal, if you like. So it’s more about impact, philanthropy, collaboration, convening and helping people.”

While to most people, this seems like a forward-thinking and perhaps even overdue approach, it does tend to go against his father’s more traditional approach. And as it turns out, Charles, who has attempted to follow in Queen Elizabeth II’s footsteps, reportedly isn’t too happy with William’s plans.

A source told Us Weekly that “The dynamics have shifted,” and even more bad blood within the royal family is seemingly starting.

It’s hardly a shocker that Prince William is next in line for the throne after King Charles III, but according to an insider who spilt to Us Weekly, it’s still “a sensitive topic” with “occasional tension” attached.

The transition, it seems, isn’t as seamless as it looks from the outside. Behind palace doors, preparations for William’s eventual reign are reportedly being managed with the utmost “discretion and purpose”—because, in the royal world, even the handover of a crown comes with its fair share of intrigue.

Another source told the outlet, “Charles has wanted to be the monarch for decades. Even though he’s battling cancer, he’s not letting that get in the way of his desire to be successful on the throne or a dynamic leader.”

The source also pointed out that Prince William is fully committed to stepping into his royal role with the utmost responsibility and is already prepping as best he can.

As 75-year-old Charles continues his cancer treatment, William is quietly stepping into the future—whether his father is fully ready for it or not. While Charles focuses on his health, it seems the crown isn’t the only thing that’s slowly shifting hands.

Last month, journalist Tom Sykes explained that “the power dynamic has shifted since the king’s diagnosis,” adding, “executive power and influence is already flowing William’s way,” per The New York Post.

Clearly, this shift is straining Charles and William’s relationship, and with tensions already running high, another family feud is probably the last thing the royals need right now.

[source:thelist]