‘The problem is actually an institutional one. They were pushed into it, but should have gone with their gut instincts, which are normally sound,’ says one insider. ‘The big problem was not with the specifics of the tour - although the duke himself acknowledges that it was not a good look to agree to get into that Land Rover. Those on the ground, such as myself, have strongly argued that the trip was, in fact, largely well received.įascinatingly, many in his camp believe he and Kate were left open to unfair criticism of being blinkered and out of touch by the inaction of Buckingham Palace. This was sharply demonstrated on the Cambridges’ recent tour of the Caribbean which was beset - according to some of their critics - by controversy. ‘And he believes the monarchy needs to better explain its own thinking, particularly in terms of its place in the world.’ ![]() But what William is working out is how to take the best of what his grandmother has done and make it relevant today,’ says one former royal adviser. The Queen’s approach has worked very well for her during a more deferential age, with different forms of communication. ‘People are simply not going to be happy with silence any more. But while he is never going to do anything to unsettle it, it is a mistake to assume he will follow his grandmother’s ‘never complain, never explain’ mantra. There is no doubt that William passionately believes the Royal Family has an important part to play in national life, as long as it remains credible and relevant. ‘He feels very strongly about this and if it had been up to him he would have pushed for things to have happened a lot faster than they did,’ remarks a friend. It would have also meant that his wife Kate would also not have attended (William and Kate are pictured with their kids earlier this month) If York insisted on taking part publicly, he would withdraw’. Like his father, he also believes that a slimmed-down Royal Family is the best way to ensure its survival - and that his shamed uncle, Prince Andrew, should never have a part to play in it again.Ī source told the Evening Standard of William’s involvement in getting Andrew banned from public participation in the Order of the Garter service: ‘The Duke of Cambridge was adamant. I have discovered that, far from being a passenger on his royal journey, he has his own distinct vision to ‘reshape’ the monarchy and won’t be afraid to get his hands dirty - or speak his mind on the issues that matter. ![]() Today I look at William, Prince of Wales-in-waiting, and Britain’s first ‘millennial monarch’. In the first part of a landmark Daily Mail series ahead of his 40th birthday tomorrow, I explored William the man, husband, father, brother and son. ‘It is a measure of who he is that, by the time he got married, he had developed such a good relationship with that particular manager that he invited them to his wedding.’ He was so low-key, just turning up and doing his thing, that only the manager knew who he was. ‘When someone said to him he looked like someone famous, William just smiled and replied: ‘I’ve heard people say that, but don’t believe it!’ And then he carried on working. ![]() The charity’s CEO has known William since the second-in-line became patron in 2005 and has even slept rough with him on the streets for a night. That was an education for him!’ laughs Seyi Obakin. He even rang up the benefit office on behalf of one young person. ‘On one occasion, he spent a week with us, turned up and was presented as a locum staff. He chatted amiably about forms, proof of ID and the many hoops that young homeless people have to jump through when trying to get back on their feet.Įach year the Duke of Cambridge makes up to half a dozen secret visits to accommodation services run by Centrepoint, the national charity for young people to which he was first introduced by his late mother. ![]() Introducing himself simply as ‘William’, the stranger politely explained that he was ringing on behalf of a young homeless person to enquire about what financial help they were entitled to. But the benefits office operator had no idea he was also a future king. The caller was posh, polite and unusually patient.
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