Zara Tindall is reportedly being lined up for a more visible royal role next year, as Prince William prepares a major shake-up of the monarchy’s future.

The 44-year-old daughter of Princess Anne, 75, and granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II, has never held an official title and is not a working royal.

But that may soon shift, with palace insiders revealing Zara has been told she’s “going to be assigned additional duties in the new year”.

According to a source quoted by New Idea, Anne has already begun leaning on her daughter ahead of the annual Festival of Nine Lessons carol service in London, quietly preparing her to “shadow her mum’s duties” should she ever need to step in.

“Anne’s health is at the point where it can be unpredictable, so it makes sense to have Zara on standby,” the source said.

“But more than that, Anne wants Zara to be able to continue some of the traditions important to her, like organising this annual carol service at the Tower of London in her role as President of The Mission to Seafarers.”

The Princess Royal, long celebrated as the “hardest working royal”, recently returned from an official visit to Australia and Singapore.

She famously declined giving Zara and her brother Peter Phillips, 48, royal titles, allowing them a freer life outside the strictures of the monarchy.

Zara has since forged her own successful equestrian career, while living at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire with her husband, former England rugby captain Mike Tindall, and their three children, Mia, 11, Lena, seven, and Lucas, four.

The family live on the same sprawling estate as Anne and Sir Timothy Laurence. 

Although the Tindalls regularly appear at major royal occasions, from family weddings to Christmas at Sandringham, insiders believe they may soon play a more public-facing role, particularly as speculation grows about Prince William’s plans to streamline the Firm.

Speaking with comedian Eugene Levy in Windsor for the Apple TV+ series The Reluctant Traveller, the Prince of Wales confirmed that “change” will be on his “agenda” when he eventually becomes king.

Since that interview aired, there has been mounting chatter that William is eyeing a “stripped-down” model similar to that introduced by Denmark’s former monarch, Queen Margrethe.

In 2022, Margrethe famously stripped Prince Joachim’s children of their royal titles, insisting: “It is my duty and my desire as Queen to ensure that the monarchy always shapes itself in keeping with the times.”

Royal commentator Hilary A. Fordwich told Radar Online on Thursday that William’s thinking isn’t far off, with several titles potentially “on the chopping block”, including those of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

“King Charles might try to let Harry and Meghan do more, but I can tell you Prince William has no tolerance for that. He does not trust his brother. He basically does not want to address it. He doesn’t want to have anything else to do with him,” she said.

Fordwich added that the decision to ruthlessly strip Andrew Mountbatten Windsor of his honours was encouraged by William, and predicted that both Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, whose ties to Epstein destroyed their reputations, will be firmly “out of sight” when William ascends the throne.

“William is laser-focused on the endurance of the monarchy,” she said.

“He has been hurt more greatly than his father by many of the actions his uncle and Prince Harry have taken. And he is more concerned and sees them as a liability more than his father ever did. So, I think they are going to have a tougher time when he does become king.”

That said, it’s believed William will honour King Charles’ decision to allow Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie to keep their HRH styles, despite the scandal surrounding their parents.

“When William ascends the throne, Beatrice and Eugenie will be valuable assets, and I’m certain they will get involved with royal duties,” Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, told Hello!.