Prince Charles to assume more official functions

The queen and her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh who will himself turn 85 in June, want to spend less time in London and more at Windsor Castle, 40km west of the capital, the paper said.

Charles will get more access to government documents, meet more often with ministers and welcome more foreign dignitaries and ambassadors, according to the report.

The queen will continue her official weekly meetings with the Prime Minister Tony Blair. Blair had just two private audiences with Charles, the Prince of Wales, last year.

Queen Elizabeth carried out 378 official duties in Britain last year, compared to 466 in 1979.

This year she plans at least two major foreign trips, to Australia in April and to Singapore at a date yet to be fixed.