5 Royal Traditions Prince William Has Already Quietly Done Away With

Royal traditions have defined life inside the Firm, with many customs still followed to the letter. But Prince William has shown that he is willing to take a more modern approach. He has never been afraid of doing things a little differently, especially as he prepares for a future monarchy that is likely to be very different from the one he grew up around.

When William became the Prince of Wales in 2022, he decided to skip the formal investiture ceremony. His father, King Charles, had a televised ceremony at Caernarfon Castle in 1969, complete with royal robes, regalia, and all the usual pomp. But William chose not to repeat the spectacle. Instead, he and Kate focused on spending time in Wales and getting to know the communities they would represent. It was a noticeably quieter way to take on one of the monarchy’s most historic titles.

William has also been far more relaxed about an old royal rule that says heirs should avoid flying on the same aircraft. The idea is to protect the line of succession in case of a serious accident, and it was a rule William himself followed after turning 12. But once he had children, he repeatedly chose to travel together with them. Even when Prince George turned 12 in 2025, the Waleses traveled together to Balmoral that summer. William and Kate continue to prioritize family trips together despite the traditional precaution.

For someone with as many Scottish titles as William, you might expect to see him in a kilt every now and then. But that really is not his style. Even at his graduation from St Andrews, he went for a suit and academic gown rather than Highland dress. But Charles is much more enthusiastic about the look and regularly wears kilts during Scottish engagements. William has never explained why he avoids them but has once shared in an old interview that the garment feels 'a bit draughty.' This makes his choice an interesting break from a tradition the royals have long embraced.

William has also taken some of the formality out of his own household. He and Kate have chosen not to have live-in staff at home, and employees are reportedly encouraged to dress casually when they are working there unless the occasion calls for something more formal. Even the way William handles royal business can be surprisingly modern. While King Charles was known to telephone his Duchy of Cornwall staff, William's former secretary Alastair Martin revealed to The Times that the Prince would simply WhatsApp him instead. It is a small detail, but it says quite a lot about how differently William prefers to run his household and working life.

The old-fashioned knee-breeches and silk stockings have not exactly made a comeback with William. At the 2024 Garter Day, he kept the grand blue velvet mantle and ceremonial hat but went for a modern white-tie outfit and regular trousers underneath. Richard Eden was not happy about it and told the Daily Mail (via Mirror), “William was at the event, but he opted for white tie and just regular trousers — so a bit of a disappointment, really. It would be great to see him in those silk stockings and breeches.” It was a much less theatrical take on the centuries-old dress, especially compared with the traditional court style associated with the Order.