There is a major restructuring going on in the British Royal family as Prince William is parting way with one of his most 'closest aids'.
In a significant development within the British royal household, Prince William is bidding farewell to a key subordinate who is among his closes aides. This move comes as Prince William and Princess Kate embark on a restructuring of their household following the death of Queen Elizabeth II last September.
Farewell to a close royal aide
According to reports, the Prince of Wales’ private secretary, Jean-Christophe Gray is set to leave in spring 2024. The Oxford and London School of Economics graduate was hired by Prince William in 2021 after serving various roles in the government.
Gray's previous roles include serving in the Government's Treasury Department as the head of general expenditure policy and working in the communications team for then-Prime Minister David Cameron in 2012. Despite his departure, Gray's contributions to the royal household are 'highly regarded in royal circles'.
Typically, a senior royal's team is overseen by a Private Secretary. However, in a departure from tradition, Prince William and Princess Kate have chosen to appoint a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead their household. As per The Evening Standard, this CEO will assume the most senior and accountable leadership role for the royal Household, reporting directly to the Prince and Princess of Wales. The CEO's responsibilities include the 'development and implementation of the royal couple's long-term strategy and the promotion of a professional and collaborative Household culture'.
The decision to hire a CEO was announced in September, and the job advertisement emphasized the need for qualities such as 'emotional intelligence' and 'humility' in the successful candidate. Sky News comments that the move is seen as a break from tradition, as it shifts the power dynamics within the royal household. Instead of a Private Secretary overseeing the staff, the CEO will directly report to the Prince and Princess of Wales. The advert states:
'An inspiring internal champion, who will energise others with positivity, enthusiasm, and ambition. Emotionally intelligent, with 'low ego,' and strong self-awareness and understanding of their impact on others.'
This restructuring is part of Prince William and Princess Kate's evolving approach to their royal roles, which have expanded since the passing of Queen Elizabeth II. Previously, Buckingham Palace has also been hiring a live-in sous chef trained in the vegan arts to prepare King Charles meals.
A busy year for William and Kate
In addition to the significant changes happening within their royal household, Prince William and Princess Kate have been actively engaged in their royal duties. Recently, the royal couple traveled to Cardiff to mark the beginning of Black History Month and to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the HMT Empire Windrush in the UK. Kate, whose fingers are reportedly being injured, also joined a training session with the England Wheelchair Rugby League team last week.
During their visit, Prince William and Princess Kate made a special stop at the Grange Pavilion, a community center that not only provides a community café but also offers employment and training opportunities to its members.
Later in the day, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Fitzalan High School, where they learned about the students' work related to Black history and the Windrush generation. The institution is regarded as one of the most diverse and disadvantaged communities in Wales, where a substantial 70 percent of students speak English as a second language, as per The Express.
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