Princes William And Harry Setting Up Their Own Offices

The U.K.'s Princes William and Harry are setting up their own private office. William, 26, and Harry, 24, will have headquarters in London's St James's Palace, where their father Prince Charles held official offices until 2002.

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The move represents an important step for William, 26, and Harry, 24, as it gives them more autonomy from the Prince of Wales. The princes' new venture was recently approved by Queen Elizabeth and is expected to be officially announced this week.

A source said: "It is part of the natural progression of William and Harry as senior members of the royal family. It is like their coming of age as it was for a young Princess Elizabeth and young Prince of Wales."

Another source added to the Britain's The Daily Mail newspaper: "They are often referred to as 'the boys', but they are young men in their mid-20s with their own ambitions."

"The thinking is that now they have taken on more engagements, they need the backup an office can provide. In a way, it's a natural evolution."

As part of the move the princes will get their own writing paper embossed with their own personal crests, which they were both involved in designing. The crests incorporate a small red escallop shell - a symbol from the family of their mother, the late Diana, Princess of Wales - as well as a lion and a unicorn on either side of a shield.

The princes' office will include a small staff headed by their private secretary Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former SAS officer.

Although the office represents a move away from their father, it will be financed by Prince Charles from his Duchy of Cornwall income.