Charles and William in a Power Struggle Over One Royal Tradition the Prince Is Adamant to ‘Reform’
Prince William and King Charles present a united front at public events. However, behind closed doors, the Prince of Wales and the monarch are allegedly locking horns over a long-standing royal tradition. A new report claims that the father and son are on a collision course over the issuing of royal warrants, with William wanting to scrap the practice. Their disagreement has reportedly led to Charles blocking William and Kate Middleton's authority to issue warrants to favored brands.
Royal warrants are granted to businesses that supply goods or services to the royal household, which are seen as a mark of prestige and endorsement. As reported by the Daily Mail's The Ephraim Hardcastle column, Charles maintains the system of allowing businesses that supply anything from horse bedding to fine jewelry to put the royal arms, but William has been agitating for 'reform'. The Prince of Wales allegedly prefers to encourage new businesses and initiatives with royal patronage, to help them to grow, rather than issue warrants to established firms. Sources suggest that finding a compromise has been tricky for the father and son.
Presently, there are around 800 warrant holders, ranging from artisan food producers and tailors to global tech firms. GB news reports that Charles and Queen Camilla currently hold the authority to grant warrants, with the monarch having the sole power over who becomes a ‘grantor.’ To obtain a warrant from a senior royal, a brand must have served the royal household for five to seven years. Charles became a grantor in 1980, while he was the Prince of Wales. If Middleton is given the go-ahead to grant warrants, she would become the first Princess of Wales to do so since 1910.
The Prince of Wales has been vocal about scrapping age-old royal traditions that do not align with his view of a ‘modern monarchy.’ As reported by the Telegraph, he told reporters, “To give you more understanding around it, I'm doing it with maybe a smaller R in the royal, if you like, that's maybe a better way of saying it.” He said of his approach, “It’s more about impact, philanthropy, collaboration, convening and helping people.” An insider also told the outlet that rather than pompous ribbon-cutting ceremonies, William wants to focus on raising money for local communities and creating change. Reportedly, the Waleses have opted to focus on a smaller number of key organizations than their predecessors.
William and Charles hence remain in a ‘power struggle’ over their different views on the monarchy. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Us Weekly, “The King had a traditional approach to patronages, accumulating over 500 of them. In contrast, William is determined, as he sees it, to make a real difference and to do this in a way that will give him contemporary appeal.” Another source told the outlet that while Charles and William 'are close,' they are “rivals when it comes to work,” noting that the monarch’s envy is “similar to how he felt about Diana.”