4 Royal Roles That Could Look Very Different When Prince William Becomes King

Prince William’s reign could bring some interesting changes within the Royal Family, especially when it comes to the roles its senior members take on. Some royals could find themselves taking on new duties as William puts his own stamp on the monarchy, while others may find themselves relegated to the side. Here are four royal roles that could look very different when he becomes King.

Kate could become much more than the queen standing beside her King. Unlike Camilla, who faced considerable public opposition before becoming queen consort and was initially set to be known as Princess Consort, Kate enters the future role with a different starting point. She has built her own influence through her work on early childhood development and her diplomatic engagements. As per ABC, royal author Christopher Anderson said, "She’s the world’s number one practitioner of soft power. World leaders swoon in her presence. The presidents of China, France, and the US all act like smitten schoolboys." As queen consort, Kate could become William's closest partner in representing the monarchy, bringing her own influence to the role while championing causes that matter to them both. William has also made it clear that he wants to do things differently when he becomes king. In the 2018 BBC documentary Prince, Son, Heir: Charles at 70, he said, “I think it is important that each generation does things a little bit differently than the previous.” While Camilla has been more traditional, playing a supportive role to Charles, Kate could take centre stage when William is king.

William could aim for a smaller working monarchy without having to rely on just a handful of senior royals. Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, are expected to play a more prominent role under his reign, with reports suggesting William values their dedication and experience. He could also turn to his cousin Zara Tindall, who may take on more equestrian-related engagements given her background as an Olympic medallist. Moreover, Peter Phillips could also offer support at selected events without becoming full-time working royals. Rather than expanding the monarchy's official ranks, William could build a smaller core and do away with family members linked to scandal. A source told Woman’s Day, “He wants to slim down the roster, impose order, and run a modern, efficient and useful institution that the public actually wants.”

Prince George's future role as heir to the throne could look different under William, particularly when it comes to balancing royal expectations with a protected childhood. William has spoken openly about wanting to shield his children from the intense media scrutiny he experienced growing up, saying, as per PEOPLE in his 2025 interview with Eugene Levy, “The damage that can do to your family life is something that I vowed would never happen to my family.” That approach is already reflected in how George is being introduced to royal life. Royal author Robert Jobson told Us Weekly that William and Kate were doing so gradually because “they don’t want to freak him out.” Rather than rushing George into the spotlight, William could give his son more time to grow into his future responsibilities while keeping his private life firmly protected.

William has taken a different approach in raising his children, making sure Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have their own identities rather than always being seen in relation to their older brother, Prince George. It is a concern that hits close to home, given how openly Prince Harry has spoken about feeling sidelined while growing up as William's younger brother, even dubbing himself the 'spare' in his memoir. Royal commentator Christopher Andersen told Us Weekly that William and Kate would not want Charlotte and Louis to feel “invisible in his shadow.” He added, “The royal family does not want another kid writing a book … another edition of Spare. Obviously, Harry was very hurt by being in the shadow of his brother. I think they’re aware of that.”