How Prince William’s relatability is modernising the Royal Family,
Prince William is playing a pivotal role in modernising the monarchy with his growing reputation for being the most relatable royal while maintaining the family’s traditions.
On Saturday, it will be Prince WIlliam’s 43rd birthday and in his time of public service he has proven himself to be one of the most down to earth members of the Royal Family.
Whether that is serving bacon rolls to servicemen or buying a round of drinks for his fellow Aston Villa fans, his seemingly small kind gestures are having a bigger impact than first meet the eye.
According to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, the future King’s relatability will help to ensure the monarchy is fit for service in the 21st century.
Richard said: ‘As heir to the throne, Prince William will inherit a role which he could be called upon to fill at any time.
‘He has already established a reputation for diplomacy as the monarchy, both in the era of Queen Elizabeth and especially more recently in the unpredictable era of Donald Trump, is pivotal in Britain’s use of soft power.
‘William also wants to change things and modernise aspects of the monarchy, whilst maintaining relevant traditions which are valuable such as the Opening of Parliament and Trooping the Colour.’
On top of this, as the Prince of Wales, William is using other tools at his disposal to spearhead campaigns close to his heart.
Hosted by Royal Historians Robert Hardman and Professor Kate Williams, Queens, Kings, and Dastardly Things looks at the Royal Family – the secrets, the palace intrigues, and the Crown’s bloodiest moments.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts now.
Richard said: ‘He has also inherited the Dukedom of Cornwall and plans to change the lives of its inhabitants where he can, especially in combating homelessness and having a positive impact on the lives of farmers.
‘His promotion of environmental issues is more relatable than the campaigning, admirable though it has been, of his father, who has given so many dire forecasts about the effects of climate change.
‘William’s Earthshot Prize emphasises the positive and the importance of tackling it with inventions and rewarding those who create them.’
Throughout his time as a working royal, William has showcased his down to earth attitudes on multiple occasions.
In 2013, the then-Duke of Cambridge played football on the lawn of Buckingham Palace with Pride of Britain award winner June Kelly and legendary England striker Michael Owen on the lawn of Buckingham Palace.
June, who founded Abraham Moss Warriors football club in May 2000 to try and keep young children out of gangs in Manchester, recalled the kickabout during an interview with the Daily Mirror.
She said: ‘He’s an Aston Villa fan, and I am a Spurs fan so we were having banter about who was going to win as they were playing each other the next day. He is so down to earth.’
During his military career, the Prince of Wales proved he was happy to muck in with his fellow soldiers and help with the domestic duties.
Speaking to radio presenter Nick Ferrari on LBC, a caller named Hugh recollected how during a training exercise in trenches on Salisbury plain the future King offered to make cups of tea for the troops.
Hugh said: ‘It was three in the morning, pouring with rain. One of the soldiers who was on stag sentry duty kicked the other one who was in his doss bag and said: “Smudger would you like a cup of tea?”.
‘And Smudger stuck his head out of his maggot and said: “yes please boss that would be great”. He asked “how would like your brew Smudger?” he said: “NATO milk and two sugars”.
‘And the bloke on stag made Smudger, from Grimsby, a brew. The man who made that brew was our next king, Prince William and that is what the military teaches you that we are all the same we respect one another and look after one another.’
Nick Ferrari then asks if William can make a good cup of tea. To which Hugh refused to answer.
More recently, while on a visit to the Army Air Corps the Prince handed out bacon and sausage sandwiches during the ‘Archer’s Breakfast’ – a weekly social event held by 664 Squadron for its personnel and their families.
William also spoke to servicemen and their families including the children of Warrant Officer Class 2 Matthew Foster, Ida and five-year-old Archie.
Speaking to the children, William asked them what they liked. Eight-year-old Ida said ‘school’ while Archie said ‘play’, LBC reported.
Earlier this year, William also showed his generous side when he bought pints for punters in Wetherspoons in Birmingham.
The heir to the throne is a well-known Aston Villa fan and he was in the city to watch his team play Everton.
He was photographed smiling and taking photos with the supporters, one of whom, Daniel Jones, 18, called the prince ‘proper down to earth’ when he bought a round of pints.
William’s drink of choice was a Bulmer’s Cider, but the prince left after half an hour to watch the match on TV.
Richard said: ‘William’s more relaxed public appearances have delighted onlookers. His support of his beloved Aston Villa has led to numerous public appearances where his natural enthusiasm is on show.’
Royal experts have noted that William’s willingness to engage with the public is reminiscent of his mother’s behaviour.
In 2023, the Daily Mail’s editor at large – Richard Kay – noted that William’s down to earth and candid trip to New York City revealed glimmers of the late Princess Diana.
Speaking to the Daily Mail’s diary editor Richard Eden and host Jo Elvin, Kay commented on the ‘spontaneity’ of William’s itinerary during his stateside trip.
In particular, he noted the 41-year-old’s casual jog through Central Park one morning, which he said was an act that was ‘straight out of Diana’s playbook’.
Indeed, perhaps partly why William find sit so easy to relate to members of the public stems from the fact much of his lived experience is not dissimilar to those many modern Brits.
Richard explained: ‘He has also experienced a childhood where, though both parents were devoted to him, the stress of that unhappy marriage which disintegrated so publicly, on a child must have been extraordinary. That too, sadly, makes him relatable to so many others.
‘So do his public displays of affection for Catherine during a really difficult period in their lives. They have chosen to release intimate images, as she has reached out to fellow sufferers and we can see how devoted they are to each other.’
