A panel of royal experts analysed the growing leadership roles of Prince Charles and Prince William in the latest episode of True Royalty TV’s The Royal Beat.
On the show, streaming exclusively on the True Royalty website, the issues that the two future kings face were discussed, along with Prince Andrew’s future in the monarchy and the growing influence the Duchess of Cambridge has had on her husband.
Royal journalist Dickie Arbiter, who served as The Queen’s press secretary, said the Prince of Wales speaking out at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda was an example of how he “is prepared to bring his own moral compass to his own royal role.”
“He wasn’t criticising Rwanda; instead he was criticising the British government policy,” Arbiter continued. “There is a very subtle difference between the two. I think he is entitled like anyone else to express an opinion.”
Like his father, the Duke of Cambridge also isn’t afraid to share his thoughts on issues close to his heart.
Stating how Prince William “has found his voice,” Ingrid Seward, Editor-in-Chief of Majesty magazine, told The Royal Beat that she thinks his recent fortieth birthday has had an impact on the future monarch.
“I think he feels he can as he is not king yet, and presumably it will be a long time until he is, and the world could have changed completely again,” she said. “I think he feels if he doesn’t speak out now, then he never will.”
Newsweek’s Jack Royston agreed, saying, “We have seen a political side to him where he is taking risks, and he is nailing his colours to the mast on issues we would not have expected.”
Citing Prince William’s Windrush Day speech as an example, Royston added that William “has come out and said things I didn’t expect him to say and entered terrain that is much less safe than where he has been operating recently … effectively, [he] criticised past government policy.”
On the topic of Prince Andrew, the panel pointed out that Prince Charles allowing his brother to make a comeback is extremely unlikely. “When The Queen is no longer here … that will be game over for him,” Royston said. “It might be game over already.”
And as for shaping Prince William’s future role, it turns out the Duchess of Cambridge plays a large part behind the scenes. “Catherine is the power behind William,” Seward said. “She is so clever and implants ideas in William and lets him carry them out in his own way. She doesn’t take the credit, which is quite remarkable, really.”
The full episode of The Royal Beat: William: The Prince at 40 is available on the True Royalty website.
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