He led a life largely free of the controversies, and sometimes scandals, that engulfed his loved ones; As a result, William has ranked high in royal family popularity polls.
Indeed, many royal watchers and historians see the couple as the true future of the British monarchy, thanks in part to the careful image-building of the family around the couple. them as an icon of the next generation.
“This is a very transitional monarchy,” says Arianne Chernock, professor of history at Boston University and an expert on modern British monarchy, of the new reign of King Charles III, who 73 years old. “I think we’ll be honest, we’ll have to wait until William and Kate, until we see a more important update. But of course, always be in harmony and mindful of tradition. “
In the days since his grandmother’s death, William has shown respect for royal tradition as well as an instinct for a positive image. Last Saturday, he released a personal statement honoring his grandmother, emphasizing not only their personal relationship but also her impact on shaping his and Kate’s views on society. What should monarchy be? He also went for a conspicuous walk that day with his brother Harry and Harry’s wife, Meghan, bringing a sense of camaraderie between two siblings whose relationship has been strained since last year.
Laura Clancy, a lecturer at Lancaster University and author of the book “Running a Family Business: How the Monarchy Manages Our Image and Money,” says an effort has been made. clarity of the palace in the inclusion of images of William and Kate. concerned, focusing on their family life.
“I think you get a more intimate image than what Charles gives,” Dr. Clancy said. “That kind of organization of a very nuclear family, you can still see that with Kate and the kids and him as this real father.”
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“We don’t really know what their personalities are like – we really don’t know much about Kate or William,” Dr. Clancy added. “But you think you do, and that matters.”
In an online survey from British polling company YouGov, William was ranked as the third favorite royal, with an approval rating of 66%; he is second only to the queen, who had 75% of popularity before her death, and his wife Kate, with 68%. Charles ranked seventhwith 42 percent.
William and Kate’s popularity comes as a package deal, fueled in part by a carefully curated social media presence that seems to offer a behind-the-scenes look at their lives. .
On their high choreography joint Instagram accountmany of the photos focus on their family life, some taken by Kate, who is very fond of photography.
Pat Sellar, 71, Mary Williams, 73, and husband Nigel Williams, 73, who joined the flower-laying crowd in Green Park this week, said they admired the royal family because they felt the whole family had a spirit of service. real service. “The Queen is gone, but I’m happy to see that passed on to the younger generation with William and Kate,” Ms Sellar said.
That popularity at one point extended to the problem of inheritance. In a survey in May, YouGov asked Britons who should become king after Elizabeth’s death; about 37% say it must be William, while 34% believe it must be his father, Charles.
Many experts believe that William is unlikely to fundamentally change the monarchy during his reign.
“One thing royals are really good at is always changing, so they can stay the same, so they can maintain what they’ve got,” said Dr Clancy. “I think William is the next generation of that.”
Inheriting his father’s titles – Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall – is more than just symbolic. It also means inheriting the Principality of Cornwall, which Charles has turned into a lucrative business empire worth an estimated £1 billion, or $1.17 billion.
He will also likely inherit some of the causes Charles has championed, including the fight against climate change, which the king will no longer be able to support in his role as head of state.
William has begun to devote time to the issue – the prince and his royal foundation have launched the Earthshot Prize, which will award five prizes worth £1 million to the creators of the prizes. measures to combat climate change every year for a decade.
Charles himself hinted at William’s ever-evolving role in his first address to the nation last week, offering clues as to how the royal family thinks about William’s role.
Charles says that as his own role changes, it won’t be possible to “spend so much of my time and energy on charities and issues that I care deeply about”, but he added , “I know this important work will continue in the trusted hands of others.”
“I take this as a message aimed squarely at William and Kate,” Dr. Chernock said. She added: “William and Kate could use this period before they became kings and queens to engage in some modernization work.”
She hopes the couple will also address issues that resonate with the public, including “dealing with challenges within the royal family” and “maybe even issue a more public apology to with slavery and British imperialism – along the lines of what Charles started doing last year in Barbados.”
Both can prove to be challenging. Prince Andrew has been largely removed from royal life following sexual assault allegations. William and Kate went on a whirlwind royal tour of the Caribbean this spring, and while they were warmly welcomed, the tour was difficult with wrong steps and criticized for being out of place.
The scrutinized and meticulously scripted public appearances surrounding Elizabeth’s funeral were also an opportunity for the family to heal the split between William and Harry.
Harry and Meghan retired from royal life in early 2020 and moved to the United States. In a sensational interview with Oprah in 2021, they details how royal life caused Meghan to commit suicide and reveal how a family member expressed concern about how dark their child’s skin color would be.
A few days later, when asked by a reporter if the royal family was racist, Prince William said it was “A lot is not a racist family,” the only direct comment he has made on that matter.
The images of brothers greeting the mourners next to their wives outside Windsor Castle last week harkens back to the days before the drama hit when the quartet was, briefly, collectively portrayed as the future of the royal family.
But the British press quickly reported that the reconciliation was clearly just a mourning for their grandmother, and may not last.
