Prince William warned 'be careful what you wish for' over new 'forever' home
Prince William reportedly has hopes to modernise the monarchy
Prince William has already made a major move, which signals his hopes for a slimmed-down monarchy, as he prepares for a new family home.
Reports have recently circulated sharing that the Prince of Wales, Princess Kate, and their three children are moving to Forest Lodge at Windsor Great Park later this year.
And apparently, Wills wants Forest Lodge to be his “forever home,” even when he becomes king. However, William’s reported aim to slim down the monarchy may come at a hefty price.
Prince William’s ‘hopes’ for the modern monarchy
“It’s all in keeping with William not wanting to be a drain on the public purse and living as ordinary a life as he can, even when he is king,” a royal insider told Vanity Fair of William’s reasoning behind not making Buckingham Palace his primary residence.
Evidently, William and Kate’s big move is said to be coming out of their pocket.
It is “understood that [Prince William and Kate Middleton] are paying for the move and rent at no extra cost to the taxpayer,” reports The Sun.
Despite this, a royal insider has predicted that William’s changes could have an unforeseen impact on the royal family going forward.
Royal commentator and journalist Robert Jobson, who recently spoke on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive Show, said that William should be “careful” of what he wishes for.
He explained: “People do turn out when they see, particularly people like Sophie Wessex and the new Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Edward. They turn out in droves. They like that connection. And if you lose that connection, the monarchy actually loses something that it’s about.”
If you lose that connection, the monarchy actually loses something that it’s about.
Jobson cautioned that if the Waleses stay tucked away in Windsor, they could “become less connected to the people”.
Prince William should be ‘careful’ what he ‘wishes for’
“I think you’ve got to be careful what you wish for,” he warned.
Especially if William continues to change “things the way he wants to,” he said.
Jobson predicted that observers should “wait and see” what the long-term impact on the royal family will be.
During the podcast, The Sun’s royal editor, Matt Wilkson, defended William’s latest move.
The Prince of Wales is ‘focusing on his family’
He insisted that William is “very much focusing on his young family,” by moving them into the sprawling home which is being customised especially for the family.
“He enjoys the school run, and he wants to bring his children up in the countryside,” Wilkson said. “I know the late Queen Elizabeth II […], she worked extremely hard when she was bringing up her children, but that’s what William perhaps is choosing not to do. But it’s a different era as well.”
Wills’ ‘balancing act’
An unswayed Jobson replied: “It’s not a question of choice—it’s a question of duty. I think that William has got to be quite careful whilst doing this balancing act.”
Jobson went on to acknowledge William and his family have been through a difficult time in wake of Kate’s cancer diagnosis but insisted that “the role of the monarch is one where duty has to come first”.
“I don’t think there’s any way around that unless you want to have a part-time monarch or a president,” he added. “The reality is that is the job. It’s a job for life and it’s a job that’s pretty relentless.”
Royal Insider has contacted Kensington Palace for comment.
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