What’s the Future of Princess Anne if Prince William Becomes King? A Former Aide Has An Answer
Princess Anne is widely admired for her no-nonsense approach and for being the hardest-working member of the royal family. Last year, the Princess Royal completed an impressive 217 official engagements, demonstrating her untiring commitment to the Crown. Commenting on the same, former royal butler Grant Harrold revealed what her future role in the monarchy might look like under Prince William’s reign. He explained that Anne would continue her tireless work and remain vital to the monarchy, despite issuing a ‘strict warning’ to William about its future.
Discussing Anne's future amid swirling rumors of William's plans to 'modernize the monarchy', Harrold argued that her importance had grown even more after Queen Elizabeth's demise in 2022. As reported by Royal Insider, he mused, "She was with the Queen at the end of her life, alongside the King. And I think people now see her not just as the Queen’s daughter, but as a true pillar of the family." With this in mind, the former butler added, "She’s one of the hardest-working royals....She’s deeply admired, and many people are reminded of the late Queen when they see her. She’s absolutely vital to the monarchy, and even when William becomes King, I have no doubt she’ll remain a working royal."
Harrold foresees a positive future for Anne under William's reign, despite her issuing a ‘strict warning’ to the Prince of Wales and the younger generation about the future of the monarchy. She told Vanity Fair, "You don’t necessarily look at the previous generations and say, ‘Oh, you did that? Or, you went there?’ And I’m already at the stage, ‘Please do not reinvent that particular wheel.’ We’ve been there, done that; some of these things don’t work. You may need to go back to basics."
Last month, it was widely reported that Anne was allegedly 'tired' and 'annoyed' at William for not carrying out enough 'bread and butter' duties on behalf of the monarchy. A report from The Sunday Times quoted a source that claimed, "She’s still doing most of the investitures [at Windsor] even though William lives there. It annoys her." At present, only the King, the Princess Royal, and the Prince of Wales carry out investiture ceremonies, though there are whispers that Prince Edward may take on the key royal duty in the future. Despite her irritation, Anne remains fond of her beloved nephew and reportedly hopes to support him in his future role as King.
As for Anne's close bond with William, royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that the Princess remains appreciative of her nephew's future as King. She explained, "There is a balance to bear in mind between Prince William’s current greater focus on his family versus the more traditional ceremonial approach Princess Anne has upheld. He is well aware of this." Reportedly, Anne also wishes William would shed his 'work-shy' image and learn to pick up some slack after he takes the throne. On the other hand, the Prince of Wales is said to strongly 'admire his aunt's devotion to duty.'