Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest has sent shockwaves through the royal household, and Prince William and Kate Middleton are said to be taking calculated approach.
While King Charles issued a public statement following his brother Andrew's arrest, stressing that "the law must take its course" the Prince and Princess of Wales chose silence.
The source told Closer Magazine, "The emotional fallout inside the Royal Family has been anything but orderly. And at the centre of it are William and Kate. They are the power players in this moment: composed, strategic and determined that the monarchy cannot afford to look hesitant or weak."
"William is acutely aware of how this looks. He doesn’t want history to remember this period as one where the Crown flinched," the source added.
As per the sources the future King and Queen of Britain have no interest in appearing soft. "In their mind, a weak response would damage the institution far more than a tough one."
"William has made it clear that under his watch, there will be no blurred lines between loyalty and accountability," the source stated.
Following King Charles' decision to remove ex-Prince Andrew from Royal Lodge and strip him off his royal titles, sources believe there will be more bold decisions in future. "William has been clear. It will be his monarchy, and it will be run differently. He’s not interested in preserving old loyalties at the expense of public trust. He believes the survival of the Crown depends on visible accountability."
"This feels like a transition moment. Charles is King, but William and Kate are setting the temperature," the source noted.
Kate Middleton is said to be "equally as strong and equally as ruthless" alongside Prince William. "They’ve worked tirelessly to steady the monarchy in the past year. Health battles, reputational damage, public fatigue — they’ve tried to restore confidence."
"In their minds, it should already be out with the old and in with the new. A streamlined monarchy. No grey areas. No unofficial roles. They are working tirelessly to restore the reputation of the monarchy," the insider added.