Today, the Prince and Princess of Wales have announced a significant new appointment, signaling a major shakeup in their team. The couple has been busy behind the scenes and has made an important hire amidst rumors that tennis fan Princess Catherine will make an appearance at Wimbledon. Speculation about this possible appearance coincides with the revelation that she and William recently made a major addition to their team.

The Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales has appointed former Tesco boss Sir David Lewis as Director on the Board of Trustees. With Sir David on board, they are gearing up to make an even bigger splash, as William and Catherine are clearly on a mission to ensure their charity work has a measurable, scalable, and positive impact.

Sir David, who was knighted in 2021 for services to the food industry and business, worked for more than 27 years with the joint consumer goods company Unilever, and from 2014 to 2020, he served as Tesco’s CEO. According to filings made to Companies House on July 2, the businessman was appointed Director of the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales on June 20. The team meets formally at least quarterly, and they are legally accountable for the Foundation’s work, having regular meetings and discussions with the couple. Clearly, this will be a heavyweight addition.

Why Sir David? A royal source described his appointment as a genius move, adding that the royal couple are laying strong foundations for their future philanthropic work. They plan to attract trustees from a wide variety of backgrounds. His impressive conservation credentials might have caught Prince William’s eye, as Sir David, a Director of the World Wildlife Fund, aligns perfectly with the Royal Foundation’s mission to champion global conservation efforts. His expertise is expected to provide a massive boost to Prince William’s Homewards initiative and Catherine’s Centre for Early Childhood.

The Royal Foundation, known for its dynamic approach, mobilizes leaders, businesses, and people to tackle some of society’s biggest challenges. Sir David, nicknamed “Drastic Dave” for his approach to cost-cutting, turned the fortunes around for Tesco within two years of being appointed CEO, reporting annual profits of £162 million and rising. He made sweeping changes by eliminating unnecessary segments of the empire, cutting thousands of jobs, and discontinuing perks like private jets. He also streamlined product lines significantly.

However, the Waleses have dropped plans to appoint a new CEO to run their royal household this year as they want to focus on the Princess’s ongoing cancer treatment. They announced a search for a new executive last September amid reports William wanted a revolutionary shakeup. This partnership is set to be a game-changer, so stay tuned, because the Royal Foundation is about to enter a thrilling new chapter.

Despite her health battles, Catherine has been quietly active behind palace doors, relying on her family for support. Ahead of the Trooping the Colour appearance, Catherine issued a statement acknowledging that she is not out of the woods yet. While the event was a significant step, officials emphasize that it did not signify a full return to public life. “I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” Catherine shared, adding that she still faces more months of treatment. At Trooping the Colour, her presence alongside her husband and children has become a highlight, symbolizing continuity and the future of the monarchy.

Royal expert Maureen Callahan said, “I keep thinking about this announcement that was made very recently, that Princess Catherine will probably not be making another public appearance this year. The Trooping the Colour is coming up, Wimbledon is coming up, and she is such a huge presence at Wimbledon. It is she alone, really, who brings the glamour and the star power, but also the dignity, the class, and the way she composes herself through this incredibly difficult time.”