5 Potential Reasons Why Prince William and King Charles Don't See Eye to Eye

While King Charles and Prince William have always presented a united front in public, reports over the years have suggested they don't always see eye to eye behind palace doors. From handling family matters to shaping the future of the monarchy, father and son have reportedly had different ideas on some major issues.

William and Harry have reportedly remained out of touch for years, with little sign of their relationship improving. That divide was once again in the spotlight during Harry's recent UK visit. While the King privately reunited with his younger son, William stayed away. A source close to both brothers told PEOPLE, “I thought it would have perhaps eased a little bit by now, to be honest. But there has been no movement, especially on William’s side. There is no contact.” Charles' desire to patch things up with Harry allegedly has led to tensions with William.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s scandals have reportedly been another issue where Charles and William have taken different approaches. While both have supported keeping the former Prince away from public royal duties, royal author Russell Myers wrote in his book, William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, that the Prince of Wales has pushed for a much firmer stance to protect the monarchy's reputation. A source told him, “He never much liked his uncle and wanted him out of the picture immediately before the rot further set in. William’s view was that he [Andrew] got himself into the whole mess, so he should be left to his own devices to sort it out away from the family.”

Charles and William have taken different approaches to royal work over the years as well. Last year's Court Circular figures reflected that too, with Charles carrying out 535 official engagements, while William completed 202. The Prince of Wales has instead focused on fewer projects with long-term impact rather than a packed calendar of appearances. Experts believe that approach could continue when he becomes king. Royal biographer Robert Hardman told Harper's Bazaar that William's coronation would likely be "a very different affair," adding, “It’ll be less ceremony. It’ll be shorter. I think he’ll try to—I wouldn’t say modernize, but maybe some of the elements will feel more contemporary”

Charles has spent decades shaping his vision for a slimmer, more accountable monarchy, gradually putting many of those ideas into practice after becoming king. However, royal experts believe William is looking even further ahead. Royal editor Russell Myers has told Us Weekly that William and Kate have a "totally different vision for the monarchy," one that is more connected with younger generations and focused on making the institution feel relevant. William has also hinted at that approach himself, telling Eugene Levy that "change is on my agenda." He stressed, “It’s very important that tradition stays. But there are also points where you look at tradition and go, ‘Is that still fit for purpose today?’”

William has often spoken about wanting to give Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis a different childhood from the one he experienced growing up in the royal spotlight. According to Us Weekly, a source revealed, “He puts up clear boundaries. He wants the upbringing of his children to be different from his own.” Royal biographer Robert Jobson has also said William is determined not to repeat Charles' biggest parenting mistakes by putting work first. He said, “The fact that his father put work first had a detrimental impact on him when he was growing up.” Meanwhile, author Tina Brown has suggested on her Substack, Fresh Hell, that William's hands-on parenting has at times been viewed as a "tacit criticism" of the King's own "paternal deficiencies."