What role will Ivanka Trump play in her father's White House?

US President-elect Donald Trump has not hidden his family from the spotlight. His wife and three eldest children actively campaigned for him and now it looks like Eric, Ivanka and Donald Jr might even have a part of play in the shaping of American politics for the next four years.

Reports on Wednesday (14 December) suggested that Ivanka, Trump's eldest daughter, would even be taking on duties usually undertaken by the First Lady – with speculation that the East Wing at the White House may replace the Office of the First Lady with an Office of the First Family.

However, a spokesperson rubbished the claims, saying that they were "false" and that "no decisions regarding Ivanka's involvement have been made". Earlier reports said that Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, owner of Kushner Companies and publisher of the New York Observer, have been house hunting in the DC area, suggesting that they are moving closer to the centre of her father's power.

That East Wing office will also be empty at first as the President-elect's wife Melania has said that she would live in New York while their son Barron finishes the school year.

Ivanka has already been a notable part of her father's dealings since he won the presidential election. Trump was criticised when Ivanka and her husband were photographed attending a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe – bringing up initial questions about what role the First Children would have in their father's upcoming administration.

Not only has Ivanka been part of official meetings, but Trump's two eldest sons – Eric and Donald Jr – have reportedly been present during meetings conducted with potential cabinet picks. Moreover, all three were part of Trump's Wednesday meeting with Silicon Valley's top tech executives.

It remains to be seen how his children, while being involved with Trump's political endeavours, will work on his businesses. When confronted with questions on how he plans to deal with the conflict of interest that arises from his business empire, Trump had said that he would put his companies in the hands of his children.

His reply may not be adequate as on Tuesday, a letter from the US Office of Government Ethics said that giving control of the companies to his children "would not constitute the establishment of a qualified blind trust, nor would it eliminate conflicts of interest". Alongside that caveat, if his children continue to run his businesses and are involved in the running of the White House, the potential for conflict of interest only seems to multiply.

When it comes to her personal businesses, there's less word about what Ivanka will do with her own companies. Will she continue to run her branded fashion line or will potential duties as adviser to her father take precedent?