Everything we can expect from Prince William's 'modern' monarchy as king
"Evolution not a revolution"
Prince William is the heir to the British throne and will succeed his father, King Charles, some time in the future – either in the event of his death or if Charles was to decide to step down at any point – with his own monarchy.
It’s thought that Prince William, who turned 43 last week, will take a more modern approach to his monarchy when compared to Charles and his predecessors, including the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Sources close to William recently told The Times that his reign will be “an evolution not a revolution”. But what can we actually expect William’s monarchy to be like when the time comes? Here’s what we know so far.
Prince William to ‘modernise’ monarchy when he’s king
A friend told The Times that William will “want to do it his way” rather than follow a script, and make sure the monarchy remains relevant and impactful far into the 21st century, ensuring that it’s “fit for purpose in the modern era”.
Speaking to journalists in South Africa during his 2024 Earthshot Prize trip, William said, via The Guardian: “I can only describe what I’m trying to do and that’s trying to do it differently and I’m trying to do it for my generation. I’m doing it with maybe a smaller r in the royal, if you like, that’s maybe a better way of saying it.”
The structure of the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace hasn’t changed much at all since the Victorian era, according to The Times, and William will want to take a real look at it to ensure everything is impactful and providing good value for money.
King Charles and Queen Elizabeth II were both quite hands-off in terms of running the Royal Household, apparently. However, it’s reported that William will look more in-depth at things.
How Prince William’s coronation will be different to King Charles’ ceremony
Already, Prince William has indicated some of the steps he might take with his own monarchy. When Charles was coronated in May 2023, he made it an hour shorter than his mother’s own service in 1953.
When it comes to William’s coronation, it could be shorter.
The royal biographer Robert Hardman told Harper’s Bazaar: “It’ll be less ceremony. It’ll be shorter. I think he’ll try to – I wouldn’t say modernise, but maybe some of the elements will feel more contemporary.”
A source close to William told The Times that he’ll keep things simple.
Ingrid Seward, the editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, has agreed that William might dial down his own coronation. She noted, however that you can only go so far. She explained: “There is a limit to how small you can make these ceremonies. If you make them too small, then they’re pointless.”
Royal selfies could be ‘back on the agenda’
Another way in which William has kept things more simple and less formal has been that he doesn’t feel the need to have lord lieutenants welcome him to engagements as they often do for senior royals – even if it’s been said that the lord lieutenants aren’t always best pleased with that arrangement.
He’s even seemingly removed a no selfies rule put in place by the Queen. While Charles has followed his mother’s approach, William has seemed happy to pose for photos. In some cases, he’s even taken the snaps himself.
William and Kate to be ‘more emotionally engaged’ king and queen
Royal author Tom Quinn told Harper’s Bazaar in April that William’s monarchy will be “less formal, less stiff” than it has been under Charles, adding: “What we can expect to see when William and Kate take the throne is a much more emotionally engaged couple. And it’s partly because I think they want to be a king and queen who are seen to engage much more with ordinary people in a very relaxed way.”
Will Prince William have two birthdays?
The Prince of Wales may also do away with the decision to have two birthdays. The late queen celebrated her birthday more privately on April 21 and then publicly on the second Saturday in June.
Trooping the Colour has celebrated the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years. It takes place each June since the UK usually has better weather for a public procession to take place in London.
King Charles has kept up the tradition. His own birthday is on November 14, which isn’t ideal for royal celebrations.
William, however, was born on June 21, around the time of public celebrations for the monarch’s birthday anyway. Some reports suggest he might not see the benefit in having two birthdays so close together.
Bringing more royals into the fold
Also evolving over the years will be the appearance of the Buckingham Palace balcony. The number of working royals will decline as time goes on, with many senior royals now in their 70s and 80s. Accordingly, they may dial back their duties.
This could mean greater roles for the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. Prince Edward and wife Sophie are 61 and 60 respectively, and it’s believed that William and Kate admire their work. Likewise, royal commentators have said that William’s cousins, Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie could become more prominent within the monarchy. While none of them are working royals, they’ve supported William at various events of late.
Then there’s the generation below them. It’s believed that William will want to focus on making the monarchy appealing to them, not least Prince George. He will become a teenager next year and is second in line to the throne after his father.
Merging different approaches
Robert Hardman offered a caveat to Harper’s Bazaar. The main constitutional role of the monarchy isn’t going to change when we have King William, and: “One thing we have learned from King Charles is that if you predict that someone is going to be the same when they are monarch as they were when they were younger, forget it. King Charles is a very different creature to Prince Charles.”
Ultimately, however, it’s thought that he may blend the approaches of his grandmother and his mother, the late Princess Diana. Royal author Edward White, who wrote Dianaworld: An Obsession, told The Mirror earlier this year: “Diana said that she was trying to raise a future king that would ensure the monarchy survived into the 21st century — and William is trying to do a Diana reboot of the monarchy, combining the best of his mother and his grandmother.”
Read more: Prince William ‘relatability’ as future king will push the monarchy into modern times
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