King Charles names Prince Louis next in line to throne in William …
King Charles has sensationally promoted Prince Louis to next in line to the throne in a move that has shocked royal commentators and reportedly caused uproar in the Royal Family. In a completely unexpected announcement this morning, Buckingham Palace released a statement saying the youngest of the Prince of Wales' children would leapfrog his siblings as well as his dad, Princes William, in the Line of Succession. While the long established rules of the Line of Succession have previously made it clear that William, Prince of Wales, would be the next to wear the crown after Charles III, the King has dispensed with tradition to declare his wishes that his beloved great grandson is the country's next monarch.
Royal insiders understand the decision is partly down to Louis' antics at the Queen's Platinum Jubilee, where he captured the hearts of the nation and proved to be a right laugh. But also the decision is down to the King getting fed up with his sons' "constant squabbling". When last together William and Harry are understood to have "spent a good 10 minutes blowing raspberries at each other" while calling each other infantile names such as 'Prince Smelly Poo Bum' and 'King Pong'.
The change is intended, experts say, as a way to show that if they can't get along then neither will be king. READ MORE: Sadiq Khan to get ULEZ exemption for the road right outside his house A source told MyLondon: "It's no secret that relations are strained at the moment between Prince William and Prince Harry but it's not just the recent issues around the Duke of Sussex's explosive revelations about the Royal Family. Charles has long been irritated by the boys bickering, even going back to when they used to fight over the last Werther's Original from The Queen's handbag.
"As the Coronation grows nearer it's become even worse. First of all they both wanted to sit in the front row. Then they demanded they both sat next to him.
After he agreed that one could sit on either side they've now both upped their demands and insisted they be allowed to sit on his lap."
Prince Louis stole people's hearts with his cheeky behaviour on the Buckingham Palace balcony last year (Image: Getty)
Many believe Harry's Netflix documentary and memoir, Spare, have killed off any chance of a reconciliation between the pair, but it's understood the bad blood began way back in 2011, when the Royal Family were having Christmas at Sandringham just a few months after Prince William and Kate Middleton got married. Royal biographer Hornchurch Trouserknuckle said it all started during what should have been a friendly game at the estate in Norfolk. "The family were partaking in a game their ancestors invented, traditionally played at Christmas time, called 'Piggy Petanque'. Essentially one tries to throw a pea into the snout of a pig - roasted of course - from one end of the banqueting table.
The winner gets the best cut of pork at dinner. Well, Harry was messing about as Harry does, and he tried to throw a pea into Kate's drink but it flew down her top. "William took this as a slight on his new wife and the pair fought like dogs on the 14th Century Persian rug.
He never forgave Harry for it, and Harry never forgave William for what he thought was something of an overreaction."
Relations have been strained between Prince William and Prince Harry but they came together for The Queen's funeral (Image: PA)
Prince William is said to be conflicted about the change to the Line of Succession, not wanting to cause his youngest son any feelings of guilt over taking the crown from him, but privately being furious at missing out on what he sees as his birthright. A Palace insider told MyLondon the King believes it to be the best thing for the country at a time when the monarchy is polarising opinion. They said: "It's certainly caused a stir and it will take some skilful diplomacy on His Majesty's part for William to come around but what we all witnessed on the Palace balcony last year was a unity of love and adoration for Louis' cheeky antics.
And that's no small thing at a time when some people's view of the monarchy isn't necessarily changing for the better. Of course, when it becomes time for him to wear the crown, we hope he's grown out of pulling faces and sticking his hands over his ears in public." And in case you hadn't realised until this point, yes it is April 1 and this is an April Fool's joke.
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