For many years, Prince Philip was the power behind the throne. His wife, Queen Elizabeth, was in command, and Philip walked two steps behind the queen according to protocol. Philip died in April 2021 at the age of 99, just 17 months before his wife of 73 years, the late Queen, died in September 2022 at the age of 96.

Now, according to The Daily Beast, it was not Philip's eldest son, Prince Charles, or any of his four children, who took up the mantle of family disciplinarian. Instead, it is Prince William who is "calling the shots" on behalf of his grandfather, a source told the magazine.

The Daily Express reported that Prince William "has taken the lead in making major decisions and has come to protect his loved ones with the final say."

According to a source in The Daily Beast, "Philip ruled his family with a rod of iron, and when he died, you saw that discipline break down. Now William is in charge when it comes to family discipline."

The Daily Express reported, "It is said that he [Philip] had no soft side - at least not seen in public." According to royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith, the late queen "became increasingly dependent on her husband for major family decisions and on her nanny for supervision of daily life." As the Daily Express aptly put it, "Prince Philip ran the royal family and Queen Elizabeth ran the state."

In the aforementioned article in The Daily Beast, the magazine was quick to break down the power dynamics within the royal family, noting that "William's rise does not mean that the king is a lame duck." With the snap of a finger, he can have anyone in the world call him," and after announcing his cancer diagnosis in February and returning to public service on April 30, "His recent return to public service is nothing short of miraculous, given that he has had cancer and is undergoing treatment for it, and his soaring popularity numbers speak for themselves The magazine reported.

William's wife, the Princess of Wales, also announced earlier this year that she has cancer.

"Her work on early childhood, for example, which she says she wants to make a signature issue, is already influencing government policy and thinking."

Kate made a triumphant return to the public eye on June 15 after a six-month absence from the public eye this year as she battled health concerns. It is unclear when she will return full time, but Wimbledon organizers expect her to make an appearance at the legendary tennis tournament in two weeks.