The Prince of Wales has, perhaps, taken part in his most honest, in-depth interview to date. Nothing was off limits – even Prince Harry – although his estranged brother was only mentioned once.
For years, we’ve glimpsed how the Prince of Wales could tweak the monarchy when he is King. He has chosen a house over a Palace to live in, he carries out fewer public-facing engagements than previous generations, but wants each one to have a tangible, positive impact on communities. Notably, however, he prioritises his family above all else. This is, of course, understandable – particularly after a year of health battles.
But one day, he will wear the crown as Head of State, representing an institution that stretches back almost a thousand years. He will be expected to fully devote his life to duty and the service of his 15 realms and territories. The monarchy’s very survival, however, also depends on the character and resilience of future generations.
Prince William’s emphasis on family, it appears, could be part of his strategy to future-proof the Royal Family. During the course of the one-hour episode of The Reluctant Traveler on Apple TV+, Prince William is clear that he will change the monarchy when he ascends the throne.
Prince William is planning a major monarchy shake-up
| think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda. Change for good. And I embrace that and I enjoy that change – I don’t fear it. That’s the bit that excites me, is the idea of being able to bring some change. Not overly radical change, but changes that I think need to happen.” The question is, how much “not overly radical change” will we see under the future King William V?
“I think it’s very important that tradition stays,” he tells Canadian actor Eugene Levy, “but there’s also points where you look at tradition and go, is that still fit for purpose today? Is that still the right thing to do? Are we still doing and having the most impact we could be having? So, I like to question things is what I’m really getting at.”
So, how safe are grand British traditions like Trooping the Colour, Coronations, and royal weddings? Before you panic, I have it on very good authority that the Prince of Wales plans to have a Coronation when the time comes and, yes, he will be wearing a crown.
However, it is expected to look a little different from his father’s Coronation – just as His Majesty’s differed from Queen Elizabeth II’s. Trooping the Colour and similar occasions are also safe, but it is unclear if William will try to scale down or alter the pomp and pageantry to appear more in touch with his subjects. This could run the risk of upsetting traditionalists and paying tourists.
The Prince of Wales discussed how much he misses his grandparents during a candid chat with Eugene Levy in a new episode of Apple TV’s The Reluctant Traveler | APPLETV+
As Duke of Cornwall, Prince William has already enacted major changes to his 688-year-old Duchy of Cornwall estate, inherited from King Charles in 2022. Following backlash over charging rent for public organisations, His Royal Highness ordered the waiving of rent for grassroots organisations, and offered up to 50 per cent discounts for other local charities. His “era of deep change” also aims to end ancient restrictions on land ownership in certain areas, and prioritise social impact and community well-being.
Could a future King William demand similar reforms to the Duchy of Lancaster and the running of the Royal Household? The size of the institution could become a focus for William; the 2024 – 2025 Sovereign Grant paid 539 staff salaries – an increase of £2million from the previous financial year.
Therefore, it is possible the Prince of Wales could be considering cutting the number of royal staff; sources remain tight-lipped on this. In a cost-of-living crisis, valets and full-time footmen may appear outdated in a modern monarchy.
Devout monarchists, however, will likely argue that all traditions are part of the institution’s unique selling point on the international stage, keeping Great Britain firmly on the map. Prince William is still only heir to the throne, but choosing to talk about his plan for change is an opportunity for him and his team to assess the public mood before he’s propelled into the top job.
