New Delhi, April 4 -- Months after divorce rumours of Prince William and Kate Middleton died down, the Prince of Wales has hired his late mother Princess Diana's divorce lawyers. This unexpected move has reportedly "shocked" the Buckingham Palace.

According to media reports, Prince William ditched King Charles's lawyers, Harbottle & Lewis, and is now working with Mishcon de Reya. He has instructed the London-based firm which famously represented Princess Diana during her 1996 divorce from then-Prince Charles to act on his and his family's behalf.

Daily Mail cited sources as saying that William wanted to "strike out on his own".

"He did not want to continue using his father's lawyers. It's as simple as that. He wants to be his own man,"...