{"id":88800,"date":"2025-09-27T12:12:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T12:12:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/88800\/"},"modified":"2025-09-27T12:12:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T12:12:09","slug":"william-and-kate-have-no-choice-as-they-are-forced-to-embrace-major-change-in-monarchy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/88800\/","title":{"rendered":"William and Kate have ‘no choice’ as they are forced to embrace major change in monarchy"},"content":{"rendered":"

As modern Royals, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge can no longer stay as private as they might wish to. Instead they have “had to move with the times” – or risk being left behind\" The Prince and Princess of Wales post on Valentine\u2019s Day(Image: \t@princeandprincessofwales\/Instagram)<\/p>\n

In this feature taken from our special Royal edition of OK!, we take a closer look at how Kate and William have navigated the past few years, and how as king and queen in-waiting they are facing their destiny with a renewed sense of duty and purpose. Click here<\/a> to purchase your copy for \u00a39.99.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The monarchy<\/a> is steeped in age-old tradition, but the Prince and Princess have developed a knack for modern storytelling that resonates with the public.<\/p>\n

As the future king and queen, William and Kate have been forced to embrace social media and open up their private lives in ways that previous generations of royals never would have imagined. \u201cThe royal mantra has always been \u2018never complain, never explain\u2019, but as modern royals, William and Kate have no choice but to play the social media game, even if they don\u2019t really want to,\u201d says royal author Duncan Larcombe.<\/p>\n

Brand and culture expert Nick Ede agrees that the couple have adapted with remarkable skill. \u201cWilliam and Kate<\/a> have carved a great path; they have senior state roles, but can also show their personalities and more casual side,\u201d brand and culture expert Nick Ede tells us. \u201cIt\u2019s a very difficult thing to pull off, but they do it in style.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pair are known for sharing honest social media content, which appears light years away from the formal royal imagery of the past. \u201cThey offer us a carefully curated window into their world<\/a>, which is so important as they move towards becoming eventual king and queen,\u201d adds Nick.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Prince and Princess of Wales on a 2023 visit Birmingham, to meet future creative industries, also met up with TV star Alison Hammond for a selfie<\/p>\n

\u201cIt makes them seem more accessible and less elitist, and the brand they\u2019ve built stands for so much more than just Great Britain. They connect with a huge audience, and the glimpses they give into their lives endear them to even the harshest of critics.\u201d<\/p>\n

With over 16 million followers on Instagram<\/a> and more than six million YouTube<\/a> views, their social content has included Kate\u2019s Mother Nature videos, depicting the passing of the seasons, and personal clips around her cancer ordeal, with the first released last March and another six months later at the end of her treatment.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese are not wobbly clips shot on an old iPhone<\/a>,\u201d says royal expert Katie Nicholl. \u201cIt\u2019s all very slick and beautifully done. After previously only having restricted access into their lives, they\u2019ve opened up with more candour than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"AA video released by Kate and William showing their children with their grandfather – Kate’s dad Michael Middleton<\/p>\n

As royal author Duncan suggests, the tactic represents a major shift for the monarchy. \u201cThe royals never normally comment on health issues \u2013 the Queen Mother had breast cancer and we didn\u2019t know about it until after her death,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Though broadcasting certain aspects of their lives may not always sit comfortably with them, Katie agrees the strategy is essential in today\u2019s digital world. \u201cThey\u2019ve had to move with the times, and they\u2019ve listened,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\u201cOn social media they can connect directly with followers, and they can dictate the narrative. When a story has threatened to spiral out of control, they\u2019ve been able to film intimate, insightful and warm footage, release it on their terms, and dispel a lot of vicious rumours.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KateKate and William have no choice but to show the public – a more personal side to them – away from official engagements <\/p>\n

One of those responsible for William and Kate\u2019s content is London-based videographer Will Warr, who filmed Kate\u2019s three-minute video last September.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always an honour to produce films for the Prince and Princess of Wales<\/a>, but this one was particularly poignant,\u201d he wrote on Instagram. \u201cThank you for trusting me to create this.\u201d<\/p>\n

Will also worked on Kate\u2019s Baby Banks initiative and filmed the couple\u2019s behind-the-scenes footage at the King\u2019s coronation in May 2023, calling it \u201can honour and a privilege\u201d.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, photographer Josh Shinner often captures family portraits, including one of George for his 12th birthday in July. He also took a snap of William with George, Charlotte and Louis for Father\u2019s Day this year.<\/p>\n

Others entrusted with family pictures include Matt Porteous, who photographed Kate in woodland last summer, and Millie Pilkington, who regularly takes official birthday shots of the children. When Louis turned five, Millie took a photo of him being pushed in a wheelbarrow by Kate.<\/p>\n

\""Another“Another brilliant day at Trooping the Colour for His Majesty\u2019s Birthday Parade. Thank you to everybody who came, and to all those who took part.” The couple posted this pic on Instagram(Image: princeandprincessofwales\/instagram)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt not only captures Louis\u2019 spirit and cheek but also the relationship he has with his mother, and the fun they have together,\u201d Millie said. \u201cYou can\u2019t but help feeling joy, love and laughter when you look at this photo.\u201d<\/p>\n

William has begun to share more online, too. On Kate\u2019s 43rd birthday in January, he posted a black and white image of her in jeans, on Instagram, writing: \u201cTo the most incredible wife and mother.<\/p>\n

“The strength you\u2019ve shown over the last year has been remarkable. George, Charlotte, Louis and I are so proud of you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Showing his finger is firmly on the Gen Z pulse, William even starred in a TikTok video in January, assisting science influencer Big Manny in extracting DNA from a strawberry.<\/p>\n

Last year, a backstage snap of William, George and Charlotte meeting Taylor Swift<\/a> during her Eras tour had more than three million Insta likes.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are a closeknit family who are as happy going to big gigs as they are meeting dignitaries from all over their world,\u201d says Nick. \u201cTheir power is up there with the Beckhams<\/a> and the Kardashians \u2013 only with titles and royal pageantry.\u201d<\/p>\n

Next year, William and Kate will begin granting their first royal warrants \u2013 the first time in over 70 years that a Princess of Wales can bestow such a privilege.<\/p>\n

\"A(Image: Instagram)<\/p>\n

Awards are given to businesses that supply the royal household, and there have been more than 800 warrants to date. It\u2019s thought Kate may focus on fashion labels, with the likes of Alexander McQueen, Jenny Packham and Catherine Walker likely to be top of the list.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll the brands Kate loves will be clamouring for her stamp of approval,\u201d says Duncan. \u201cThis is someone who makes dresses or shoes sell out within hours whenever she wears them. Kate has the Midas Touch, and it\u2019s a real throwback to the Princess Diana<\/a> years.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dubbed the \u2018Kate effect\u2019, her impact was seen in February when a brown Petar Petrov blazer she wore to the National Portrait Gallery <\/a>immediately sold out, despite a price-tag of over \u00a31,000. #<\/p>\n

Said to be worth \u00a31 billion to the British fashion industry, her effect extends to accessories, too, and jeweller Catherine Zoraida \u2013 whose earrings Kate loves \u2013 says, \u201cWhenever she\u2019s seen in a pair, it\u2019s something like a 500 per cent lift.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KateKate in a red maxi coat by Alexander McQueen coat(Image: PA)<\/p>\n

At the other end of the scale, a pair of \u00a317 Zara earrings Kate teamed with an Alexander McQueen gown to the 2023 BAFTAs also sold out.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Kate effect will never cease,\u201d says Nick. \u201cShe can put small brands on the map and sell out collections in seconds. She re-wears clothes and mixes them with affordable pieces and historic jewellery to amazing effect, building her own brand and creating awareness of others.\u201d<\/p>\n

On a more serious level, Kate\u2019s early years work prompted Swedish brand IKEA to partner with local baby banks, while supermarket Co-op<\/a> was so inspired by her Shaping Us framework that it launched its own parenting initiative.<\/p>\n

\u201cBig brands are taking a leaf out of her book,\u201d says Katie. In fact, it may be impossible to measure her and William\u2019s reach these days.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt sounds a bit crass to describe them as a brand, because they\u2019re so much more than that,\u201d adds Katie. \u201cBut while they are incredibly influential, they recognise their power comes with responsibility, and crucially, that it\u2019s not something to be taken lightly.\u201d<\/p>\n

William and Kate: A Bold New Path, OK! Special Collector’s Edition<\/p>\n

In the three years since becoming Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate\u2019s lives have changed in ways they couldn\u2019t have imagined. The sadness of the late Queen\u2019s death in September 2022 was followed by even darker days, as William\u2019s bitter rift with Prince Harry deepened and a cruel cancer diagnosis ripped through the heart of the royal family twice in a matter of weeks. But despite such upheaval and trauma, the pair have shown unwavering resilience and doubled down on their family-first stance. In this special edition of OK!, we take a closer look at how the couple have navigated the past few years, and how as king and queen in-waiting they are facing their destiny with a renewed sense of duty and purpose.<\/p>\n

Click here<\/a> to purchase your copy for \u00a39.99.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"As modern Royals, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge can no longer stay as private as they might…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":88801,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[268],"tags":[20907,4139,434,58172,18,117,19,431,17,6277,2971,58170,34676,2973,58171,14380,58173,5093,973],"class_list":{"0":"post-88800","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-celebrities","8":"tag-accessories","9":"tag-breast-cancer","10":"tag-celebrities","11":"tag-declan-donnelly","12":"tag-eire","13":"tag-entertainment","14":"tag-ie","15":"tag-iphone","16":"tag-ireland","17":"tag-jewellery","18":"tag-love","19":"tag-midas-touch","20":"tag-national-portrait-gallery","21":"tag-parenting","22":"tag-petar-petrov","23":"tag-princess-diana","24":"tag-queen-elizabeth-the-queen-mother","25":"tag-royal-family","26":"tag-taylor-swift"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88800","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88800"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88800\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/88801"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}