William's 'Radical Honesty' Is Proof He Won't 'Fudge Things' When He's King: Expert
Royal expert Hannah Furness praised Prince William's openness about his faith and his intentions to do things differently.
Prince William has long believed in carving a different legacy once he ascends the throne, free from rigid traditions and ribbon-cutting ceremonies often associated with the monarchy. On that note, the Prince of Wales caught many off guard when a Palace aide revealed his commitment to the Church of England was quieter and often misunderstood, signaling his intention to do things differently. Weighing in on the same, royal expert Hannah Furness believes that he would rather be honest about his life now than deceive the public as king.
Writing for The Telegraph's Your Royal Appointment newsletter, Furness praised William's 'radical honesty' in setting the record straight rather than ignoring the speculation about his so-called disinterest in the Church. She penned, "It would be perfectly fair for the public to have an opinion on it, but he [William] would rather weather it now than fudge things until he is King." She mentioned that while the Prince of Wales has not publicly stated his belief in God, he remains committed to the Church of England. She continued, "The British public isn't daft...They appreciate being spoken to like adults. In a Palace world that can feel confusing and opaque to outsiders, the simpler the message, the better."
To argue her case, the royal expert stressed that if William wasn't ready to pledge his faith, he wouldn't force himself to do so. She added, "For his [William's] aides and supporters, there is no problem on the basis that he fully supports the Church of England's work and place in public life. There is plenty of overlap between its values and work and that of the Prince and Princess of Wales." Recently, William and Kate Middleton attended the installation of Dame Sarah Mullally, shutting down critics who questioned the Prince's alleged unseriousness about the Church.
Furness's comments come in response to a Palace aide's statement, where they asserted William's commitment to the Church, though it may not always look like it. In a press conference last week, they stressed that "the Prince of Wales's commitment to the Church of England is sometimes quieter than people expect." They added, "His feeling is, 'I might not be at church every day, but I believe in it; I want to support it; and this is an important aspect of my role and the next role, and I will take it very seriously, in my own way.'"
As for William, whose religious life has long been a debate, he has always attracted scrutiny owing to his fewer appearances at Church compared to his predecessors, King Charles and Queen Elizabeth. However, a source told The Sunday Times, "Those who know him [William] well recognize that his connection to the Church and to the sense of duty that comes with it runs deep and is grounded in something personal and sincere." As the future head of the Church, he is reportedly looking to bridge the gap between ancient tradition and a modern society.
