The Queen may approach parliament with a request which would prevent Prince Andrew and Prince Harry from keeping elite roles within the monarchy.
The monarch could act in answer to fears of a potential "leadership gap" at the head of the Royal Family if she fell ill, the Mirror reports.
Concerns regarding the 96-year-old having to step away from her position due to sickness could lead to her asking Westminster to change the law and halt the process which would kick in.
Five members of the royal family, titled ‘Counsellors of State’, have historically been positioned to take over from Her Majesty if she is unable to perform her duties due to being abroad or unwell, for example.
The title is currently held by Prince Charles, Prince William, Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, who are the four next in line to the throne and are at least over the age of 18.
The late Prince Philip, who passed away aged 99 last April, also held the role as a spouse of the monarch.
This enabled him, along with the other counsellors, to perform crucial functions of state to business, such as providing Royal assent to bills passing through Parliament and appointing High Court judges.
Both Harry and Andrew are no longer working members of the royal family, which essentially doubles the responsibility on Charles and William.
Prince Harry’s decision to quit royal life to set up home in California means he can no longer act on behalf of the Queen as he is not domiciled in the UK.
Similarly, the Queen stripping her son Andrew of his titles amid the ongoing civil sex case trial has resulted in him being demoted to a private citizen, meaning he is no longer eligible either.
Constitutional experts state that although the law isn’t clear, the practice has always been to have two counsellors acting at the same time - which further complicates the issue.
The Prince of Wales and Duke of Cambridge are understood to be planning major royal tours this year in a bid to get back to full royal duties after the pandemic.
They are also likely to be travelling for events to coincide with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
A source told the Mirror: “Any considerations of this nature would be taken by the Queen and her advisors before being put to the government to act on.”
Royal insiders have suggested an Act of Parliament could be requested to remove Andrew and Harry, with further reports suggesting the Duchess of Cornwall could be in the frame for a promotion as a precursor to Charles, 73, taking the throne.
Alternatively Princess Anne and Prince Edward could also be considered for the roles.
Dr Craig Prescott, a constitutional expert at Bangor University, said the current situation posed a potential problem for the smooth running of Government.
He told The Mirror: “I think this should be looked at if it isn’t being done already by the Palace, because they certainly would want to avoid a situation where the monarchy becomes a problem for the government.
“The monarchy should be thinking six-12 months ahead, arguably even two to five years ahead, where possible.
“You just need the right, or wrong set of circumstances, to occur at once for there to be an issue.
“As we saw during Covid, with Prince Charles and Prince William were reportedly infected at around the same time which could have left them incapacitated.
“With the Queen having taken a period to recuperate from illness herself in recent months the burden is actually quite considerable.”
Meanwhile it has emerged that the Queen will still award Jubilee medals to Prince Andrew and Prince Harry, despite them being independently stripped of their military titles.
Having lost their honorary titles, the pair will no longer be eligible for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal, which will be awarded on Feb 6.
To mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, the commemorative medal will be awarded to serving members of the Armed Forces, police, fire, emergency and prison services.
Having lost their honorary titles, the pair will no longer be eligible for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal, which will be awarded on Feb 6.
To mark the Queen’s 70 years on the throne, the commemorative medal will be awarded to serving members of the Armed Forces, police, fire, emergency and prison services.
Around 400,000 will also go to 999 crews, prison staff and some Armed Forces members ‑ all for public service.
Royal Household staff with a year under their belt and living recipients of the George and Victoria Crosses will get one too.
It has been suggested medals from past Jubilees worn by senior members of The Firm at Prince Philip’s funeral last year were for their service to the nation.
But others, such as Peter Phillips, Zara and Mike Tindall, Beatrice and Eugenie and their husbands ‑ who carry out no official duties ‑ have also been given medals and should receive one this time.
Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our weekly Showbiz newsletter here .
