Prince William is reportedly keen to follow in King Charles’s footsteps and work towards a more streamlined monarchy, an expert has stated.

Prince William’s major plans for the Royal Family could meet with some serious resistance from a senior member, as one royal commentator believes the heir is keen to slim down the working monarchy, as his father King Charles is doing.

The Daily Mail’s Richard Eden said he had been informed by inside sources that William is looking towards a more European model of monarchy, similar to those of Sweden or Denmark.

Mr Eden quoted a source who claimed that “when the older members of the family retire, His Royal Highness won’t be inviting anyone else to become working royals”.

He added: “It remains to be seen if he will even want his two younger children [Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis] to be working royals.”

William, his wife Princess Kate, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh are currently the only four working royals under the age of 70.

When William and Kate become King and Queen it is likely the numbers of working royals will be even further reduced, with only Prince George seemingly guaranteed for royal duties.

The insider clarified: “This is what William wants. He sees the small European monarchies as the model for the future.”

However William’s aunt Princess Anne is not thought to be happy with this idea, as she previously criticised the idea of a slimmed down monarchy.

During an interview with CBC she appeared to question whether such a model was practical, given the departures of Prince Harry and Prince Andrew from working royal life.

The Princess Royal told her interviewer: “Well, I think the ‘slimmed down’ was said in a day when there were a few more people around. It doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing, I would say. I’m not quite sure what else we can do.”

About King Charles, she added: “Well, you know what you’re getting because he’s been practising for a bit, and I don’t think he’ll change. You know, he is committed to his own level of service, and that will remain true.”

During the reign of Queen Elizabeth the Buckingham Palace balcony was filled with non-working royals and their families during events such as Trooping the Colour.

But now King Charles has dramatically slimmed down the numbers of royal standing on the balcony, as even his nieces Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are often no longer present.

Royal commentator Jennie Bond showed her support for the King’s plans, as she told OK! magazine: “I still hold to the idea that the slimmed down Royal Family IS indeed the right model for the future. It’s in line with most European monarchies and is sensitive to the constant criticism that the Royal Family cost taxpayers too much.

“Adding new working royals to the payroll will only exacerbate that criticism. I think the model William has experimented with is the answer: drafting in his cousins here and there (e.g. garden parties) to spice things up a bit. It makes such occasions even more special and allows those cousins to get on with their lives as they wish, without the strictures of the royal diary.”