A senior member of the Royal Family is "hopeless" and would be better as the manager of a "second division football team", an expert has claimed.

David Starkey, a historian who penned such books as Henry: Model of a Tyrant and Magna Carta: The True Story Behind the Charter, shared his thoughts on the current state of the monarchy in a recent interview.

He claimed that the monarchy is "fading into irrelevance" and aimed a brutal dig at the future King, saying "nature intended him" to take up a rather different career.

David told the Telegraph that Prince William is "hopeless...nature intended him to be the manager of a second division football team", adding that he'd be "rather stretched at that".

However, his comments about the royals didn't end there, with the historian claiming that the late Queen Elizabeth was "obsessed about the Commonwealth".

It follows reports that suggest King Charles, who took the throne after his mother Elizabeth's death in 2022, has made efforts to modernise the British monarchy.

One of the ways in which this has occurred is with Charles taking steps to create a "slimmed-down" monarchy, with emphasis on a smaller number of working royals taking on official duties.

In an attempt to make the institution more efficient, the focus has shifted to key members, including Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Kate and their children, George, Charlotte and Louis.

It was previously reported that these were a response to mounting public concerns about the Firm's costs, with the slimmed-down monarchy an attempt to ensure that the institution was good value for taxpayer cash.

King Charles has also taken steps to ensure that the Royals represent the many different cultures and faiths that reside in both the UK and the Commonwealth.

In a reception at Buckingham Palace, the King addressed a number of religious leaders, referring to aims to safeguard "religions, cultures, traditions and beliefs to which our hearts and minds direct us as individuals".

Meanwhile, Prince William reportedly has a five-point plan for when he takes the throne, with changes that include less engagements and patronages, less formality and potentially even the end of the Commonwealth, according to a source.

“Focusing on the United Kingdom is very much a priority for William moving forward and there are already plans being worked on to that effect,” said the source.

"There is a reluctance there from both William and Kate to join the tour of the Commonwealth because they feel it’s an outdated institution and not something they want to head.”