Prince William’s Reign Will Be ‘Markedly Different’ — He’ll ‘Turn His Back on History,’ Expert Warns
The royal family is known for its centuries-old traditions and protocols that dictate every aspect of their lives. But the monarchy under Prince William will be strikingly different, warns royal expert Rebecca English. In her column for the Daily Mail, English recently claimed that William will take a bold approach when he takes the throne. She explained that the heir apparent has little patience for the ‘we’ve always done it this way’ approach of the monarchy. Still, she expects he will respect some of the traditions, while bringing changes shaped by his life experiences.
English's remarks follow William's own admission during his interview with actor Eugene Levy on The Reluctant Traveler. When asked about his plans for the monarchy, he replied, "I think it's safe to say that change is on my agenda. Change for good. And I embrace that…I don't fear it. That's the bit that excites me…the idea of being able to bring some change. Not overly radical change, but changes that I think need to happen."
According to English, the Prince’s guiding principle is quite simple. He wants every royal practice to have a reason beyond habit. A source close to William apparently explained, "When he thinks about change, it's very much in the guise of questioning how things are done. If the answer is, 'But we've always done it like that,' his answer will inevitably be, 'But why?'" This mindset mirrors the practical reforms he has already introduced as Duke of Cornwall, where he modernized estate management and emphasized transparency.
Those close to the Prince, however, also insist that he will not disregard the traditions and ceremonies that make the monarchy special. "He very much believes in tradition and the magic of the monarchy," an insider allegedly told English. Still, English stressed, "It's also clear that William is firmly in charge of his own destiny, with a clear and confident vision for the future, one that is likely to look markedly different than anything we have seen before."
William’s wish to bring change comes from his own strong sense of family and legacy. While speaking to Levy about his childhood and Prince Harry, he said, "I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past that Harry and I had to grow up in — and I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation.” That promise gained deeper meaning as 2024 became one of the hardest years of his life. King Charles and Princess Kate’s cancer diagnoses forced him to prioritize family while also taking on more royal duties. Despite the hardships, he has been focused and calm, qualities that are expected from a future king.
That same steadiness has also guided how he, along with Kate, is preparing Prince George for his destiny as king. The two want his childhood to be as normal as possible while also balancing his royal responsibility. "It's a massive balancing act," an insider once told PEOPLE. "He’s getting firsthand experience of what it’s like to be a royal and a monarch and firsthand experience of being a normal boy." This means that George needs to be in the spotlight, learning the meaning of service early, without losing the freedom every child deserves.