5 Mistakes Prince William Is Unlikely to Repeat as King

Prince William has spent most of his life examining the monarchy from the inside, and when he eventually becomes king, he will surely bring in a lot of change. From his interviews and podcasts, one can deduce that William seems to be preparing for a different kind of reign, one where he has learnt from the mistakes of his predecessors and is mindful of their advice.

Charles has always been passionate about the environment, but his determination to influence public policy often put him in a difficult position with the government. He wrote feverishly to ministers about environmental issues and depletion; in 2015, some of these letters were published, igniting debate about whether the future king had crossed the line between campaigning for causes and influencing government decisions. In another notable incident, Charles lobbied Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond over support for his food business and the renovation of historic buildings. This raised several questions about whether such interventions were appropriate for a future monarch. William, meanwhile, appears to favor a more collaborative approach when working on his passion projects. Rather than presenting himself as someone who can solve the problem alone, William has brought different groups together to work towards a common goal, for instance, with his Homewards initiative. Launched in 2023, he works in partnerships with local organizations, businesses, and communities.

King Charles has experienced firsthand how putting royal duty before personal relationships can have consequences. According to royal author Ingrid Seward, Charles gave William the same advice before he married Princess Kate. In reference to his relationship with Princess Diana, Charles reportedly told him, "Don't make the mistakes that I made. I just did duty, duty, duty. I neglected my marriage, and look what happened," the author shared in a conversation with Fox News Digital. William clearly took the advice to heart and kept his family life private, making it his priority. On Eugene Levy's Apple TV+ series The Reluctant Traveller, he said he tries to have a 'normal home life' with his kids and wife, further highlighting the contrast with his father.

King Charles spent decades as Prince of Wales before becoming monarch in 2022, and he used that time to build his own identity through environmental campaigning, charitable work, and his interests in architecture and traditional farming. William, however, appears more concerned with the future of the monarchy before he inherits the throne. Rather than waiting until he becomes king to make changes, William is already using his current position to test the kind of leadership he wants to bring to the monarchy, as per ABC. Royal author Robert Hardman's book Charles III: New King, New Court provides another useful take on William's approach, where the Prince is expected to go down a "more conventional and cautious path" when he becomes King, wading into big social issues less than Charles. He is also focused on preparing himself and his son as the future of the monarchy. Hardman stressed, "In [William's] view, it's not far off the most important job he has — raising the next King but one."

King Charles's 1969 investiture as Prince of Wales was a grand ceremony held at Caernarfon Castle in Wales, but William has no interest in such pomp. Previously, when the father and son duo made an appearance together at Westminster Abbey for the 300th anniversary of the Order of the Bath, William reportedly found the whole affair ‘ridiculous’ and out of line with his vision of a modern monarchy. Talking to the Daily Beast, his friend shared, “This is exactly the kind of medieval cosplay William thinks is ridiculous. He understands and respects tradition, but this kind of event is hardly telegraphing a monarchy which is modern and relevant.” Following his trip to South Africa in November 2024, he told The Times, “I can only describe what I’m trying to do, and that’s trying to do it differently, and I’m trying to do it for my generation. I’m doing it with maybe a smaller role in the royal.”

The size and cost of the royal family have become increasingly important topics, especially as the public asks more questions about royal wealth, property, and who benefits from taxpayer-funded arrangements, after the recent peppercorn rent scandal. Amidst the chaos, William appears likely to continue focusing on a more streamlined monarchy, although his exact plans for royal funding and staffing have not been fully outlined. One example is Forest Lodge, the Windsor property where William and Catherine are establishing their family home. Reports in 2026 said the couple pays annual rent of £307,500 ($405,900), with the cost covered by William's private income from the Duchy of Cornwall rather than directly by the Sovereign Grant. During an interview with Eugene Levy for The Reluctant Traveller, William said, "I think it's safe to say that change is on my agenda … I don't fear it; that's the bit that excites me." It might hence be safe to say that his reign is unlikely to see so many royals kept on a payroll by the monarch.