As his uncle is banished, the heir prepares for a downsized monarchy

Prince William has made clear he does not seek the historic trappings or grandeur of alife lived in the royal spotlight

- Rachel Sylvester Political Editor

On Friday Prince William visited the headquarters of the London ambulance service in Waterloo. He knew then that, within hours, his uncle Prince Andrew would, in effect, be banished from the court of King Charles III.

In recent years, the key strategic reputational decisions within the royal family have been run past or driven by the Prince of Wales. "Of course William was very much involved," said a former courtier. "The former Duke of York always liked the grandeur and the connections he could make through his royal role. William is absolutely clear that's not the sort of monarchy he wants."

But as he walked around talking to call handlers and mental health nurses, William gave nothing away. When a young female paramedic described being sexually assaulted while responding to an emergency call, he listened intently then asked her gently: "Does that prey on your mind, going to more jobs?" He was shocked to hear that the call handlers receive abuse on a daily basis. They told him it was just part of the role. "It shouldn't be," he replied.

The royals are not my regular beat but I was there because for the past few weeks, even before Friday night's latest drama in the family, I have been trying to understand the plans of the future king. William has been sending signals that he plans for a very different kind of monarchy - fewer people on the balcony, a bigger impact on the ground.

Prince Harry has left the UK for the US. Andrew has given up his royal titles. King Charles is still receiving treatment for cancer. Over the summer, the Prince and Princess of Wales announced that they had no plans to move to Buckingham Palace. Instead, Forest Lodge, an eight-bedroom mansion on the Windsor estate, will be their "forever home" - at least while their children grow up. George is 12, Charlotte 10 and Louis seven. Within royal circles, preparations for William's likely long reign have begun.