Prince William Has a ‘Ruthless Streak’ and Is ‘Not Afraid to Make Hard Calls,’ Claims Insider
Prince William’s tough, no-nonsense approach to royal drama, especially involving Harry and Meghan, is being framed by insiders as a necessary strategy.
The future King, Prince William, might look soft on the outside, but according to sources, he has a “ruthless streak.” An insider revealed to Rob Shuter, “William is not afraid to make hard calls. And right now, that’s exactly what the Royal Family needs." Moreover, he also “holds a grudge” against people who have gone against him, especially by choosing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
After William recently reaffirmed his commitment to the Church of England, now under Sarah Mullally, royal experts began pointing to what they describe as his more resentful streak, especially given his past ties to Justin Welby. Roya Nikkah said on Times Radio (via Daily Mail), “Justin and his team, for many years at Lambeth Palace, did try very hard to get meetings with William and there was just a wall of silence that came down. William is someone who does hold a grudge, he does choose sides. If someone picks the other side, he remembers that.”
There is also talk that the tension between Prince William and Justin Welby may be tied to the whole Sussex situation. According to royal commentator Nikkah, Harry and Markle had grown quite close to Welby and even trusted him with personal conversations. That connection raised eyebrows, especially after the couple claimed in their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey that Welby had actually married them privately before their big royal ceremony.
Justin Welby eventually stepped down from his role in November 2024 after facing heavy criticism over how a serious abuse case was handled. The controversy centered around John Smyth, a British barrister accused of abusing hundreds of men and boys over several decades. Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said (via Page Six), “William was absolutely right to keep him at arm’s length, ensuring his contacts are with his successor, Sarah Mullally, who may one day crown him.”
Furthermore, William’s friends say his approach feels very different from King Charles, who is often seen as more emotional and sometimes even a bit too soft. One insider put it simply that Charles leads with his heart, while William is all about strategy. And when it comes to the ongoing royal drama, whether it is his brother, Prince Harry, or his uncle, ex-Prince Andrew, sources say William is not big on second chances and prefers to keep things firmly in check. “He doesn’t forget, and he doesn’t forgive easily. If you cross the line, that’s it,” the insider revealed.
William has kept a distance from his brother Harry and Markle, as well as his uncle and ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, and their daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. According to Fitzwilliams, the Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly have not had any direct contact with Harry and Meghan since Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral.
Fitzwilliams explained that William’s toughness is not necessarily a bad thing. “William is our future king. Thank goodness he has a ruthless streak, as this is needed in today’s world, especially with the monarchy among its most closely watched institutions,” he said. And as another insider pointed out in Shuter's Naughty But Nice substack, "He’s not trying to be liked. He’s trying to protect the monarchy."
