EXCLUSIVE: The Prince of Wales is an important source of support for King Charles, as royal experts question whether he is becoming the ‘new’ Prince Philip in his dutiful approach

The Prince of Wales’ position in the Royal Family is steeped in history and tradition as he is frequently called upon to step up and assist his father, King Charles.

In fact, it has frequently been reported that both The King and Prince William – rather than just the monarch – have stepped in to stop certain appearances, such as at events like the Order of the Garter.

And, following on from reports that William’s dutiful and resolute stance is just like that of his late grandfather, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, a leading royal expert has examined whether or not the heir to the throne is stepping into Prince Philip’s formidable shoes.

With Prince Philip being famed for his no nonsense and ruling over the Firm with a rod of iron, top royal expert Jennie Bond questions whether William is the new ‘enforcer’ of the family after it has been said that he is adopting Prince Philip’s firm approach in his interactions, particularly with Prince Harry.

“William has always been a strong character,” the former BBC royal correspondent exclusively told OK! “I think his broken childhood made him tough and resolute. He now has the reputation of being stubborn and, once his mind is made up, he sticks to his decision.

Prince William is taking after his late grandfather Prince Philip (Image: 2015 Getty Images)

“Obviously, as heir to the throne, his word carries a lot of weight in the family and I think it’s true that he has been prepared to take a tough stand on a number of issues, including Andrew and Harry.

“Whether he is the ‘new enforcer’ I am not so sure. But he is definitely someone who commands respect within the family and whose views hold considerable sway.”

Jennie’s comments come after a source told to the Daily Beast that Prince William has assumed the mantle of the family’s ‘disciplinarian’, stating: “There is a sense that William has stepped into the Prince Philip role.

“Philip ruled the family with a rod of iron and you saw when he died that discipline collapsed. Now William is calling the shots when it comes to family discipline.”

The insider revealed that King Charles’ determined attitude directly affects his handling of the ongoing spat with Prince Harry. Even though King Charles would love to see more of his junior son, William remains firm in a revealing tactic that, according to the insider, shows ‘who’s calling the shots’.