William ‘Feels on Edge’ After Andrew’s Arrest as Pressure Mounts Over His Future: Expert
Just three days after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest, Prince William and Kate Middleton attended the BAFTA Awards, intending to keep the focus on their work. While the royal couple put on a brave face, William later admitted he was not in a 'calm state,' a remark that quickly generated headlines. Royal expert Cameron Walker revealed that although the Prince's comments were somewhat taken out of context, he is undoubtedly shouldering the pressure of one day becoming king, during one of the monarchy's most challenging periods.
In an article for GB News, Walker provided context on William's remark, which many royal watchers related to Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest. When the Prince was asked whether he had watched Hamnet, he admitted he had not seen it, telling the group that it left his wife in 'floods of tears.' He added, "I need to be in quite a calm state, and I'm not at the moment. I will save it," possibly hinting at his dwindling mental health amidst the monarchy's ongoing crisis. Hamnet is an emotional film about the death of Shakespeare's son, which won Best British Film at the star-studded award ceremony.
Against this backdrop, Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest on February 19 came without any warning to the royals, including William. Walker wrote, "In the context of last week's arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, currently eighth in line to the throne, it is no wonder Prince William feels on edge. It is impossible to say whether the police investigation into his uncle is the sole cause of his not-so-calm state, but I suspect it could be a part of it." According to the expert, this, along with the expectation of taking to the throne and supporting his ailing father, only added to William's already burdened shoulders.
Despite all the ongoing turmoil, Walker lauded the Prince and Princess of Wales for projecting a calm front and attending the event. Regarding William's stance on his disgraced uncle's arrest, he stressed, "I understand there is no change to their official programme following Andrew's arrest, but Prince William is deeply concerned about the situation. He supports the King's statement on Thursday: no one (even a former prince) is above the law." Shifting focus to the Prince's icy demeanor at the Duchess of Kent's funeral, Walker opined that William looked 'uncomfortable and refused to start a conversation with Andrew' despite the latter's best efforts.
Even as William aimed to steady the tone at the BAFTAs, he was heckled about Mountbatten-Windsor's arrest and its impact on the family by one disgruntled attendee. As he and Middleton walked the red carpet, which had been specially cleared for them, a heckler shouted, "Is the monarchy in peril?" Unsurprisingly, the couple stayed calm and followed the royal family's cherished 'never complain, never explain' mantra. They have been heckled about the former Duke of York more than once, most notably during a January visit to Scotland, so this was nothing new.