The Prince of Wales is expected to join his father for a public engagement in the coming days after saying that he did not want to make “the same mistakes” as his parents.
William’s comments came in a television programme in which he said that he would bring “change” to the monarchy. He also hinted at the lasting impact that the “drama and stress” surrounding his parents’ divorce had had on him growing up.
Is the prince’s talk of change a criticism of his father’s reign? No, sources close to the prince say. The programme was simply an opportunity for him to set out his stall as a future king.
Rather than being a “chess piece” king — a reference to the game piece which can move only one square at a time — William hopes to be more flexible.
Speaking after the programme was filmed, a source close to the prince said that clues to his future reign could be seen in the way in which he has approached the Duchy of Cornwall, the vast estate he took over from his father when Charles became King.
It is understood that William has set about modernising the duchy, with a source saying that he wanted to “get into the weeds” and keep on top of developments by sending WhatsApp messages and visiting farmers in person.
The Princess of Wales, too, is making changes within her traditional role. A source said that the annual carol service hosted by Kate at Westminster Abbey was a sign of her quietly modernising the monarchy.
While traditional, the concert often features modern artists and music and is designed and choreographed with a wider television and social media audience in mind.
The Princess of Wales arriving at her Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in 2022
TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER RICHARD POHLE
Will there be a coronation? Absolutely. However, it is likely to be far simpler and more modern.
While the King’s cancer treatment continues but with his health improving, William’s message seems well-timed.
A well-placed source said: “This is a very clever chance for the public to get to know William better, see the genuine ‘him’. He’s spoken about future plans at a good time, while the King is well and can be seen going about engagements as usual.”
Last month William travelled to Scotland without his wife and children to visit the King and catch up with friends, staying at Balmoral while Charles was at Birkhall.
It came as Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister, visited Scotland to meet Charles. Following his 90-minute audience with the King, Albanese hinted that the Prince and Princess of Wales may visit Australia soon. Their last visit was in 2014 when Prince George was a baby.
Albanese told reporters that there was a “standing invitation” to members of the royal family to visit Australia. He added: “I hope that the Prince and Princess of Wales are able to visit as well and we are hopeful that might occur in the coming period.”
For Charles and William there are other matters to discuss, too. While the Duke of Sussex left royal duties more than five years ago, he remains a constant presence. In September he had tea with the King at Clarence House during a visit to the UK.
The King with Anthony Albanese
ANDREW MILLIGAN/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
Since then, however, the reunion between Charles and his younger son looks less likely to lead to a fuller reconciliation after Harry accused Palace aides of “sabotaging” their relationship by leaking details of the meeting, during which he presented his father with a framed family photograph.
Harry is currently fighting a legal case in the UK, arguing that journalists breached his privacy. William has stayed away from the case; however Harry’s lawyer alleged in written submissions to the High Court that the heir to the throne may also have been a victim of unlawful information gathering along with the Princess of Wales and her parents.
Harry later said that he was unaware that his brother and sister-in-law would be named during the case.
William has said that “family” issues overwhelmed him in a way that work no longer did. He also appeared to offer his first public sign of sympathy towards Harry in months.
In the episode of The Reluctant Traveler, released on Apple+ on Friday, William spoke of the “insatiable” media of his youth.
He said: “I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past that Harry and I had to grow up in. And I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress into that situation.”
To keep his children safe, William said that he and Kate were “very strict” with the rule that their three children, George, 12, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, 7, were not allowed mobile phones.
In conversation with Eugene Levy, the Schitt’s Creek actor, William said: “I enjoy my job, but sometimes there are aspects of it, such as the media, the speculation, the scrutiny: they make it a little bit harder than other jobs. It’s just making sure that doesn’t overtake and intrude into areas at times when you just want a bit of space.
“I think it’s also important because if you’re not careful, you can intrude so much into someone’s life that you start unpicking everything. Growing up, I saw that with my parents. The media was so insatiable back then. It’s hard to think of it now, but they were much more insatiable.
William spoke to Eugene Levy for his show
IAN GAVAN/APPLETV+/PA
William, right, with his brother and parents at Highgrove in 1986
TIM GRAHAM PHOTO LIBRARY/GETTY IMAGES
“They wanted every bit of detail they could absorb, and they were in everything, literally everywhere. They would know things, they’d be everywhere. If you let that creep in, the damage it can do to your family life is something that I vowed would never happen to my family. So I take a very strong line about where I think that line is, and those who overstep it, I’ll fight against.
“But equally, I understand in my role, there is interest. You have to work with the media, they’re all there. You have to have a grown-up situation with it as well. It’s about knowing where the line is and what you’re willing to put up with.”