William will have more time to focus on his new role now that he’s done babysitting. Plan? Bring more positivity to public life
All eyes may be on our new King and Queen, but another major shift will be seen.
First time in more than 60 years, Wales has a new Prince and Princess. In his address to the nation last night, King Charles III announced that William is now the Prince of Wales and Kate is the Princess of Wales.
I’m informed the heir to the throne has a plan for his new role.
The duke looked up to his grandmother like no one else. The service and responsibility she exemplified will be part of William’s future job, a source said. He’s a pro.
The heir to the throne, 40, intends to pass on his initiatives, such as the Royal Foundation and the Earthshot Prize, to his children when he becomes king.
I spent months chatting to William’s inner circle to learn what kind of Prince of Wales he’ll be.
His funding will change the most.
He will inherit his father’s £1.2 billion Duchy of Cornwall estate, which has kept succeeding Princes of Wales in small change since the 14th century.
Last year’s profits, which William can now enjoy, were £23million, though Charles always voluntarily paid tax on it. William won’t have to beg his father for hand.
William and his father, who have often disagreed, agree on the Duchy.
William, 40, admires his father’s cautious administration of the estate, and his tenants consider Charles a great landlord who sets up hardship funds and monitors rents.
William wants to push environmental, mental health, and homelessness concerns like his father.
William has spent the last few years ‘future-proofing’ the Royal Foundation and ensuring his biggest project, the Earthshot Prize, can operate independently without his day-to-day involvement.
When he becomes king, he plans to hand on these projects to his children. William is determined to promote environmental, mental health, and homelessness issues like his father.
A pal thinks he’ll remain hands-on. He believes he can contribute as Prince of Wales, especially in housing and homelessness. He knew he should be careful, but he won’t be quiet. He has his father’s campaign zeal.
He shares his father’s propensity to speak about long-term beliefs. Prince of Wales’ climate change beliefs were mocked, but look at him now. William wants to do it.
The acquaintance continued, ‘He won’t be happy if a huge task isn’t getting adequate attention because of his position.’ He’ll be cautious. He avoids controversy yet takes risks.
That doesn’t imply William and Kate will lecture on any topic that interests them.
Despite their eagerness to speak out on subjects they care about, William and Kate won’t lecture and hector the public.
A friend said, “He and the duchess must cover more ground and choose their causes carefully.” There are fewer Royal Family members and ten times the demand for their help.’
William wants to be known for his ‘optimism,’ say friends. He believes that’s the Royal Family’s job. One former aide says he and Catherine both feel public life can be drab and lack optimism.
They think it’s their role to counter pessimism and accentuate the good.
With fewer royals, how will they do it? What about the Duke of York’s ejection from public life and Harry and Meghan’s tumultuous departure? Surely this hurts their future plans.
One adviser says, ‘It’s not what they envisioned.’ William loves Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, but he doesn’t want them in public.
He loves and values his cousins. A member of his inner circle says he tells his employees to invite them to large events and maintains a good relationship with them. Like his father, he favors a streamlined monarchy.
Friends say William wants to be distinguished by a’sense of optimism,’ which he believes is the Royal Family’s role.
However, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and his wife Sophie are still part of the plan. He admires his aunt’s hard work and is close to the Wessexes. They’re part of the future,’ an insider said.
Uncle Andrew is apparently not part of this strategy.
‘He would have pushed for things to go faster if he and the Prince of Wales could have operated freely. I’m heard the Queen and her son complicated things.
William seems ready to be prince. Former member: ‘Absolutely, the mechanics have been in place for a long time, but his head is correct now too.
‘Two years ago, he wasn’t ready. He is now. What happened this week is more than anyone can understand, but homes have worked hard to keep their dwellings in order.
‘For a long time, the family has been pulling together. Family crises are life-changing. The catastrophe [with Harry and Meghan and Andrew] seems to have made this one.’
William is ready for his new career with his wife’s support. In spite of the pain, the future feels in good hands.
When Harry and Meghan appeared in 2018-2019, a lot of time, energy, and emotion was spent on his brother. He tried to help him work through his troubles, resisting the media. It’s gone.
William wasn’t thinking about the future and his profession before, but now he is.
William is currently grieving for his family. William can’t believe his granny died. He doesn’t regret anything he didn’t say.
William is ready for his new career with his wife’s support. Despite the sadness, the future feels secure.
KATE will be a suitable replacement to the mother-in-law she never met.
Ex-BBC Royal Correspondent Jennie Bond
After 25 years, there’s a new Princess of Wales.
While we all process the Queen’s death, the changes that follow seem equally surprising. Roles are switched, titles inherited, and the hierarchy changes.
Most of us find ‘His Majesty’ strange. ‘King Charles’ is unusual.
The Queen Consort is next. They’re now the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Camilla didn’t use the term because Diana had dominated it. Out of respect for the Princess and since she played a part in Charles and Diana’s divorce, Camilla chose the title Duchess of Cornwall.
I’m sure Kate’s mother-in-law would believe she’s a good successor if she knew her.
After 25 years, we have a new Princess of Wales.
Comparisons are natural. Diana was tall and slender, like Kate. Kate is also more than her appearance.
After her divorce, Diana remained determined to using her platform to achieve change, such as by walking across a minefield in Angola.
Kate has the brains and profile to do more. Kate’s transition into royal life was smoother than Diana’s. Diana wasn’t prepared for her job. She was born an aristocrat, but she was unused to the public eye.
Kate is middle-class and dated her Prince for almost a decade before they married. Before committing to a life together, she shared his student life and built a great bond with him.
They broke up for a while, a mock divorce, before William snatched up this modest, gorgeous young woman, now a Princess and our future Queen.
Compare Kate to Diana. Diana was tall and slender, like Kate. But she was more than her beauty, just like Kate.
Diana felt unsupported as Princess of Wales. She lacked parental support because of her shattered family.
Later in life, she told me she liked to be called Lady Di: ‘I don’t wake up every morning thinking, ‘Yippee, I’m a Princess!’
”
She was the world’s Princess. Her shoes are big.
Diana’s star qualities emerged from the minute she walked down the aisle to marry her Prince. Archbishop of Canterbury called her marriage a “fairy tale,” and we believed it.
Even as a shy bride, she had charisma. In 1988, I covered her visit to Australia with Charles, a natural royal roadshow star. By then, she was a successful actress, and the fantasy marriage was over. Di-mania was rampant, so thousands flocked to see her.
Diana’s success exacerbated marital problems. Charles despised playing second fiddle to his wife. Diana often said she and Charles ‘would have made a fantastic team’ As it was, she left her mark on her own by making the monarchy more approachable and humane.
Kate is popular without overshadowing her spouse. Now a confident, hands-on mother of three with a happy marriage and supportive family, she’s ready to take on the Princess of Wales title and make it her own.
How proud she would have been of her son’s double act.
Diana informed me that as a teenager, William felt the weight of royalty. She was sure he’d realize he had no control over his fate.
“William is OK,” she said, proudly displaying a framed photo of her son in her sitting room. ‘He’s lucky for the country.’
Kate is lucky for William. With her by his side, he’s become a confident, mature future King prepared to assume his responsibilities.
William and Kate are a supportive pair who let each other lead on their projects. Diana thought Charles would join them.
Kate is popular without overshadowing her spouse. Now a confident, hands-on mother of three with a lovely marriage and supportive family, she’s ready to take on the Princess of Wales title.
Kate is lucky for William. With her by his side, he’s become a confident, mature future king prepared to assume his responsibilities.
Just like Diana did before her, Kate brings an informality to royal occasions, kneeling down to talk to wheelchair-bound persons and sitting on the floor to converse with children. She’s down to earth while still sprinkling royal stardust.
After her divorce, Diana backed fewer causes. She wanted to focus on her passions.
Kate has focused on early learning and mental health from the outset.
World altered Thursday. The woman who was such a gentle, tranquil presence in our national life for 70 years has gone. She’s broken stability and continuity. Line continues.
Kate has grown into her role as the Queen has gradually handed up critical tasks to her heirs. She seems confident and charming.
Our new King and Queen love and admire Kate, and her husband and the public adore her. Almost 25 years after William walked behind his mother’s coffin, his wife has inherited her title. It’s well-deserved.