New book seems to confirm that Princess Charlotte plans to one day inherit the prestigious royal title

Now the talk of the throne has turned to Princess Charlotte. Princess Charlotte will eventually receive one of the "greatest royal titles" at the request of her grandfather, King Charles, writes Robert Jobson in his latest book, Our King. Currently, Charlotte is third in line to the throne, behind her father Prince William and brother Prince George; prior to 2012, her brother Prince Louis would have leapfrogged his sister for the throne simply because he is male. Not so now, thanks to a directive from Queen Elizabeth that was established before William and Kate had children. (George was born in 2013.)

And while George's future as king is already being planned, the Mirror reports that Charlotte will eventually become the Duchess of Edinburgh. This is also a sweet tribute to her late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth. Queen Elizabeth, although clearly the monarch, was also the Duchess of Edinburgh, as she was married to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. With Edward becoming the new Duke of Edinburgh last month, his wife Sophie, the former Countess of Wessex for nearly 24 years since their marriage in 1999, is now the Duchess of Edinburgh. Upon Edward's death, the title would revert to the Crown (presumably William) and not pass to his own son, James, Viscount Severn. Charlotte would therefore inherit the title at that time, hopefully in the distant future. [Prince Charles, sensitive to the fact that nine-year-old Prince George's future is already set, has taken care to provide one of the grandest of titles for Princess Charlotte (now called Lottie by her mother and Mignonette (meaning pretty in French) by her father)," Jobson writes. The king made his brother Edward the new Duke of Edinburgh, but the title was limited to life." After Edward's death, Charles has made it clear that Charlotte (now 7 years old) should become Duchess of Edinburgh."

All of this, Jobson continues, is consistent with Charles' famous "slimmed-down monarchy" plan.

"Prince Charles," he writes, "is determined to reduce the size of the royal family and wants to prevent it from expanding any further by conferring these senior titles only on current members.

"Charles III is planning a modernized and streamlined monarchy.

As far as the Edinburgh decision is concerned, Prince Charles has indeed made the right decision, respecting (in the author's opinion) his parents' wish for Edward to inherit the throne, while at the same time looking out for Charlotte. Well done, Your Majesty.

Our King is going away tomorrow.