William Won’t Follow Charles’ ‘Radical’ Approach — and It Might Be Exactly What the Monarchy Needs
Prince William may bring change to the monarchy, but not like King Charles and that contrast is raising bigger questions about his reign
Everyone is naturally curious about how Prince William will lead the monarchy following King Charles’ reign, and royal biographer Robert Hardman has shared his insights. According to him, even though Queen Elizabeth came across as calm and reserved, she was actually quite sharp and decisive behind the scenes. Now, under Charles, the monarchy is evolving differently. He has been making it more streamlined and modern, but still rooted in tradition. William has also talked about bringing in change, though Hardman suggests his approach is far more cautious and nowhere near as “radical” as his father’s.
Hardman told Marie Claire, “I don't think he's instinctively radical, whereas his father, I think, was. I mean, you look at when Charles was William's age now, he was constantly making speeches complaining about the state of architecture, education, heritage, pollution...he was a very outspoken heir to the throne.” Although Charles and Prince William are both strongly committed to environmental causes, their styles could not be more different.
As Hardman explains, William tends to take a more measured, grounded approach, especially compared to his father’s more vocal, hands-on stance. He added, “William's rather like The [late] Queen's father, you know. He's sort of dutiful, thoughtful, keen to do a good job, but not desperate to change the world.” Moreover, Hardman also implied that Elizabeth had a strong influence over William. “She changed the institution a lot, but incrementally. You had a philosophy which she talked about once in one of her Christmas broadcasts, which is a phrase I heard her use quite a few times about small steps,” he explained.
Charles seems completely settled into the role he spent a lifetime preparing for. Hardman, who has followed him for decades, says the King has stepped into the job with a real sense of purpose and energy. For Charles, it is not just a duty; it is something he genuinely enjoys. “He’s never been shy of work,” the author said, as the King is well-known for his intense work ethic, often staying up late at his desk and taking on extra work without hesitation.
King Charles has earned that “radical” reputation largely because he has never been afraid to nudge royal traditions in a new direction. Since taking the throne, that mindset has carried over into how he runs things. A few examples include him pushing for a slimmer, more streamlined monarchy, opening royal spaces a bit more, as The Times detailed, and making the institution feel less formal and more in tune with the times.
Even the smaller changes say a lot, like when he quietly axed the palace’s long-standing all-white tennis dress code that governed the palace’s private tennis court since 1919. As Charles prepares for his U.S. trip, the welcome event in his honor is already set to break from tradition. Guests are reportedly told to skip hats, something that has long been a staple at royal-style gatherings. It is not confirmed whether the change came directly from Charles, but it still reflects the kind of subtle shift toward a more relaxed, less rigid approach.
