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Simon Case, who spent nearly two years working as Prince William’s right-hand man, will become the next cabinet secretary, following Sir Mark Sedwill’s departure from office. But the news may disappoint the Duke, as Case was well loved by royalty and his move to Downing Street was only supposed to be temporary.
At the start of the coronavirus pandemic, Case, 41, was temporarily transferred to Downing Street to help with the government’s response to the crisis.
The move was only supposed to last a few months, and the aide was expected to return as Prince William’s private secretary later this year.
But Mr Case, who had been working as a permanent secretary since May, was chosen by Boris Johnson to become the UK’s top official.
No10 is expected to announce the change tomorrow, according to the Financial Times.
Government experts have yet to confirm the reports, but a spokesman for the Cabinet Office said: “An official announcement about the new cabinet secretary will be made on Tuesday, September 1.”
Case has worked for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for several years and is credited with turning the couple into a public relations success story.
Before hunting him down, it is understood that Johnson contacted Prince William directly and asked for permission to borrow from his chief aide.
The Prime Minister sees Case as part of his inner circle, and the pending announcement has been seen as a sign that Johnson and his top political adviser, Dominic Cummings, intend to push through a series of tough reforms.
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“Will you find that the levers are not attached to anything?”
It comes after Cummings told his political advisers in June that “a heavy rain is coming” and vowed to reform an “incoherent” cabinet office, creating a smaller, more elite center of government and shaking Whitehall’s culture.
Mr. Case has been in the public service since 2006 and has served in several key roles advising the government.
He was involved in the planning of the 2012 London Olympics and also worked as the private secretary to former Prime Minister David Cameron.
The official has also played a prominent role in Brexit negotiations, particularly on matters related to the Irish border.
The pending announcement of the new cabinet secretary comes after Sir Mark Sedwill announced in June that he would step down.
Sir Mark, who will now occupy a seat in the House of Lords, has reportedly clashed with the Prime Minister and his top aide on several occasions.
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