William’s Friend Reveals Why The Prince Wasn't Thrilled With Charles at Latest Event: 'This Kind Of…’

Prince William and King Charles made an appearance together on May 16 at Westminster Abbey for the 300th anniversary of the Order of the Bath. At the event, Charles conferred the honorary title of ‘Great Master of the Order’ on William. But behind the scenes, things were reportedly frosty between the father and son. William’s friend claimed that the Prince allegedly found the whole affair ‘ridiculous’ and out of line with his vision of a modern monarchy.

William’s new title was once held by Charles, who received it from the late Queen Elizabeth in 1975. William’s pal told the Daily Beast, “This is exactly the kind of medieval cosplay William thinks is ridiculous. He understands and respects tradition, but this kind of event is hardly telegraphing a monarchy which is modern and relevant.” The Prince of Wales has been vocal about not being a big fan of the royal pomp. Following his trip to South Africa in November 2024, he told reporters, “I can only describe what I’m trying to do and that’s trying to do it differently, and I’m trying to do it for my generation. I’m doing it with maybe a smaller r in the royal.”

Despite reports of a tense exchange, Sky News reports that William and Charles were able to share a touching moment before they participated in the historic ceremony. Dressed in crimson robes, the father and son warmly greeted each other, and the King gently patted his son's arm before the procession. The event also saw Charles act as sovereign for the first time, as the service happens once in every four years. In a heartfelt decision, the monarch appointed Kate Middleton, the first Royal Companion in the history of the Order of the Companions of Honor, to recognize her for her public service and support of the arts.

Coming back to William's plans to modernize the monarchy, as per the Telegraph, he once stressed, “And I’m also going to throw empathy in there as well…And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.” He added, “It’s more about impact, philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people.”

William is allegedly more than happy to 'be acknowledged' as a quiet disruptor, despite the criticism his new modern ways might attract. A Palace insider told The Times that the Prince wants to shift the focus of the monarchy from 'ribbon-cutting' events to 'deliver practical benefits' instead. The source explained that William wants to make a real 'impact' and get things done to improve people's lives, eliminating the pomp. Reportedly, the Waleses have also opted to focus on a smaller number of key organizations than their predecessors.