KING Charles III is reportedly planning on making changes to the law which could see Prince Andrew no longer eligible to be a counsellor of state.
The reported move would prevent non-working royals from taking on the role.
Under the new plans, Prince Andrew, Prince Harry and Princess Beatrice would all become ineligible to stand in for the monarch.
As dictated by the 1937 Regency Act, the spouse of a monarch and the four adults next in line to the throne are able to act as counsellors of state.
However, the ascension of King Charles means that Queen Consort Camilla, as the King’s spouse, and Princess Beatrice are eligible to become counsellors of state.
READ MORE: Anger over Prince Andrew's Earl of Inverness title amid Counsellor of State backlash
This would mean that three of the five counsellors would be non-working royals in Prince Andrew, Prince Harry and Princess Beatrice.
Earlier this week, republican groups hit out at the idea that Prince Andrew could carry on in the role following sex allegations against him which he has denied.
He stepped back from being a working royal following the outrage over his friendship with the late billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
There have also been calls for Andrew to lose his Scottish title, the Earl of Inverness.
The Daily Telegraph has reported that it is understood the King recognises the incongruity of having three non-working royals able to stand in for him should he be abroad or be unable to fulfil his duties.
READ MORE: What are counsellors of state and can Prince Andrew step in for the King?
It is understood he is ready to take the relevant steps to change the law with his siblings Prince Edward and Princess Anne the most likely candidates to fill two of the positions.
There could potentially be wider change that would attempt to clearly define the position of working and non-working royals.
Counsellors of state are not often called upon although have occasionally been required in recent years.
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