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Sky News
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
My week with Prince William, the quiet disruptor
Photographed in a beam of sunlight, Prince William walked through Westminster Abbey with the King behind him. The ornate robes of the Order of the Bath service, two weeks ago, felt like a world away from the more modern image he wants to portray. But as a man bestowed with so many traditional titles, it's a new role he's shaping for himself that is more intriguing - William, the quiet disruptor. In a week when Time Magazine named the Prince and Princess of Wales in its top 100 philanthropists list for "modernising royal philanthropy", I spent the week following the prince on various engagements. None of them particularly headline-grabbing, but all examples of how he's setting out to do things differently, or underlining the challenges, and potential criticisms, he faces doing things his own way. Take Tuesday, for example. We weren't expecting him to turn up as we waited at the Soho Hotel in London to watch a new series of films about the dangers faced by wildlife rangers, a project described as "the brainchild" of Prince William. But all of a sudden, there he was in the room, taking the mic to explain what it really means to him. Speaking about his drive to "give a voice to the voiceless", it was indicative of what feels like a greater desire from him to articulate more publicly what he stands for. Since November, when he described how he wanted to carry out his duties with "a smaller r in the royal", you've got the sense William, and his team, have further wanted to cement in our minds where he sees his role. From conversations this week, with those who work closely with him, the word "convening" came up time and again; the prince doesn't want to waste what he knows is a unique position, to bring people together, start conversations and support those who are already doing amazing things in their communities. Shifting the dial But this isn't just about him personally. This is now a man whose vision for the monarchy, I'm told, is increasingly driven by a desire to "shift the dial on global leadership" where others may be failing. With palace sources telling me he'd be more than happy to "be acknowledged" as a quiet disruptor, despite the criticism his new ways of working might bring. Those who've known him a long time will tell you this compulsion to do things differently has been there for some time. Dr Tessy Ojo, the chief executive from The Diana Award, has worked with Prince William and Prince Harry for over 20 years. She said: "They would never do royal engagements from the sense of cutting the ribbon or simply being poster people. We were very clearly warned if you wanted any form of engagement, it almost had to have a whole strategy behind it." She told me she has always sensed how much William appreciates the responsibility that comes with his role, especially in a world where "there's a massive demand on leadership… there's a lot of distrust on leaders". "What people wanted 40 years ago from their monarch is completely different," she said. "I think it's super important that as the heir, as the next monarch, he's very in tune with what the people want, and what people expect. And being able to be that 21st century monarch, who is a present dad, but also a leader who understands how to use your leadership for social good". A modern royal Wednesday, and William walked into a sweaty, but infectiously positive, community hall in Leith in Edinburgh. No ribbon cutting here, but this is the kind of visit the prince now sees as a big deal, "impact" the buzz word ahead of any engagement now. A very lively game of football launching what they hope will be a long-term tie-up between the Royal Foundation (their charitable trust), Leith community centre and Street Soccer Scotland. On Thursday, the sight of a guard of honour saluting the prince and princess, as the national anthem was played alongside HMS Glasgow, just emphasised the regular handbrake turns they face from the more relaxed to the formal, as they want to make the monarchy feel connected and relevant. Then there is family to consider, in a way that past generations just haven't. Their working diaries are now arranged around their children. They've made no secret of that. On paper, it means fewer engagements compared to other members of the family, and it has led to mutterings of that word no one within the palace wants to hear: "workshy". Making an impact? But talking to people in Glasgow, away from the royal visit, I overwhelmingly found most thought William was setting a good example by putting family first. What people were less clear on was his "social impact" work and what that is all about. The community projects may not necessarily grab as much attention as William and his advisors want, but what will be fascinating to watch is the potential long-term impact of this new kind of ethos. As the Prince and Princess of Wales stood on the steps of Buckingham Palace at a garden party on Tuesday, pausing for the national anthem, you can't help but wonder whether those traditional elements of royal life could face a shake-up when one day he leads the firm full time. Understandably, no one likes to talk about transition, and Prince William certainly doesn't shout about his thoughts on what will come. But as heir, his vision for the future and what royal leadership should look like could have huge consequences for the institution.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
King Charles and Prince William Reunite in Frosty Royal Ceremony
With so much focus on Prince Harry and King Charles' estrangement, it's easy to forget that Prince William has also had a tricky relationship with his father. William and Charles made a rare joint appearance this week at the Order of the Bath service at Westminster Abbey to mark 300th anniversary of the order, and William didn't seem entirely thrilled to be there. More on that below. Meanwhile, a flattering report in The Sunday Times rejected any characterization of Charles relationship with his sons as 'distant.' A 'royal insider' is cited in the piece as saying, 'I don't think he was emotionally distant. That was one of the great myths and one of the great untruths that Diana propagated, that Charles was cold and not fun with the children, and that she was the fun one.' It is truly incredible that some people in the Windsor orbit are still interested in rubbishing Diana's name, but this renewed effort to rewrite history to portray Charles as a warm and avuncular father should not stand unchallenged. First off: A young Prince Charles appeared happy to be photographed holding 2-year-old Prince William's hand as they arrived at St. Mary's Hospital to meet newborn Prince Harry in September 1984. However, in Harry's memoir Spare, Charles exclaimed to Princess Diana on the day he was born, 'Wonderful! Now you've given me an heir and a spare—my work is done.' According to Harry, Charles then left to play polo immediately afterward. Elsewhere in Spare, Harry describes Charles as a 'loving, but sometimes distant father' who rarely showed physical affection. In the 2021 Apple TV+ series The Me You Can't See, Harry recalled his father saying to both boys at unhappy moments during their childhood: 'Well, it was like that for me, so it's going to be like that for you.' However, Harry had a damning verdict on this stiff-upper-lip philosophy: 'That doesn't make sense. Just because you suffered, that doesn't mean your kids have to suffer,' he said In a candid livestream conversation in March 2023 with trauma expert Dr. Gabor Maté (part of the promotion of Spare), Harry discussed the 'lack of touching' and hugging in the royal household. He noted that his father loved his sons deeply, 'but he just couldn't show it' in the way they needed, because of how he himself was raised in an emotionally reserved family. Moreover, there is little argument among William's friends that Charles' emotional remoteness extended to his relationship with William. Charles even reportedly became jealous of the public adulation William and Kate had generated. 'Pa and Camilla didn't like Willy and Kate drawing attention away from them or their causes,' Harry wrote in Spare, noting that 'they'd openly scolded Willy about it many times.' Harry also described how William discovered that Charles (and Queen Camilla) had a hand in leaking unflattering stories about William and Kate to the tabloids. Harry writes that his brother was left 'seething' and 'justifiably incandescent' upon learning that 'Pa and Camilla's people had planted a story or stories about him and Kate, and the kids' in the press. A friend of William's told The Royalist, 'The boys certainly did have a difficult relationship with Charles after their mother died. It was part of what brought them so close together and why their estrangement today is so awfully sad.' Prince William's grumpy expression this week as he carried out that joint engagement with his father showed, perhaps, why such double headers are vanishingly rare. Father and son, clad in magnificent robes of crimson, were the principal celebrants at an anachronistic service celebrating what should by rights be a long-forgotten chivalric order, the Order of the Bath. The Order originated in the eighth century, and the name is taken from the ritual washing that was undertaken by gentlemen in preparation for the conferment of knighthood. William was installed Friday as Great Master, a role he inherited from his father, who was ceremonially handing it on at the service. It's hard to put your finger on exactly what look was pasted onto William's face as he made his way through Westminster Cathedral, but suffice to say: He didn't look especially thrilled by the honor. One friend of the prince 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.' William has made no secret of his desire to be rid of many of the bells and whistles of royal pomp, saying in November last year, '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.' A source close to William, when asked, dismissed suggestions that the Prince of Wales had reservations about the Order of the Bath service.
Telegraph
16-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
King says he's ‘on the better side' of cancer
The King has revealed he's now 'on the better side' of his cancer treatment. He spoke candidly to a former cancer patient during an away day with the Queen to celebrate Bradford's status as the UK's City of Culture. The monarch has been receiving weekly treatment since he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of the disease in early 2024. Florist Safeena Khan said he gave her the 'thumbs up' when she asked about his health, and told her: 'I'd like to think I'm on the better side (of my cancer journey)'. 'He asked me how I was, and I asked him how he was. There was some pleasantries towards the end, but it was a lovely conversation.' The King stepped up his workload at the start of the year, following positive progress with his treatment, which has continued despite a 'bump in the road' when he was briefly admitted to hospital after experiencing temporary side effects in March. On Friday, the monarch was joined by his elder son for a service at Westminster Abbey, during which the Prince of Wales was installed as a Great Master of the Order of the Bath. Prince William attended the historic service for the first time, having been appointed to the ancient order last year. Meanwhile, the King took part for the first time as sovereign of the order, which is awarded to members of the military or civil service for exemplary work and this year celebrates its 300th anniversary. Father and son, both dressed in the order's billowing crimson satin robes, arrived at the Abbey's Great West Door separately, shortly after 11am to be greeted by the Dean of Westminster, the Very Reverend Dr David Hoyle. Inside, the King greeted his son warmly, with an affectionate pat on his shoulder; before they enjoyed a brief, jovial conversation with the dean in the Chapel of Saint George. They then processed through the church with officers, knights and the Dame Grand Cross of the order before taking their seats in the Quire. The King was accompanied by his young page, Guy Tryon, 10, the son of his godson, Lord Charles Tryon, and the grandson of the late Lady Dale Tryon, an Australian socialite who enjoyed a close relationship with the King in his younger years. The service was conducted by the dean, who read the lesson from St Paul's epistle to the Philippians chapter 4, verses 4 - 8 and gave the address. The service for the Order of the Bath takes place every four years, with the monarch traditionally attending on only every other occasion and the Prince of Wales, as Great Master, attending every service. The King, as the Prince of Wales, last attended in May 2022. This year's service was brought forward by a year to coincide with the 300th anniversary, meaning that the next one will not take place until 2030. The order consists of up to 120 Knights and Dames Grand Cross, 295 Knights and Dames Commander, and 1,455 Companions, in addition to the Sovereign and the Great Master. It is the fourth most senior order of merit, after the Orders of the Garter, the Thistle, and of St. Patrick. The late Queen last attended the service in 2014, when, due to her frailty, the then Prince Charles stepped in to perform her duties by making the offering, a task that involved climbing steep wooden steps in full regalia. King Charles will be flying to Canada for the opening of the Commonwealth country's parliament at the end of May and after a busy summer period will be hosting a state visit by France's President Emmanuel Macron when the royal diary is normally winding down.
Sky News
16-05-2025
- General
- Sky News
King Charles and Prince William share private moment at historical ceremony
King Charles and Prince William were able to share a private moment before they participated in a historical ceremony on Friday. Dressed in crimson robes, they warmly greeted each other, and the King gently patted his son's arm ahead of the Order of the Bath service at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony celebrated the 300th anniversary of the order and included Charles as the sovereign for the first time, as the service usually takes place every four years. The Prince of Wales was installed as Great Master, which is awarded to members of the military or Civil Service for exemplary work, during his first-ever procession. Charles had held the Great Master role for nearly 50 years, but passed it to his son on St George's Day in April last year. He appointed his daughter-in-law, Kate, the first Royal Companion in the history of the Order of the Companions of Honour to recognise her for her public service and support of the arts. Queen Camilla was made Grand Master and First or Principal Dame Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. Five new Knights Grand Cross were also installed during the ceremony at the Lady Chapel of King Henry VII at the abbey on Friday. They are Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, Admiral Philip Jones, General Sir Mark Carleton-Smith, Lord Young and Sir Tom Scholar. The Order of the Bath was established by King George I in 1725, but it is believed to have originated in the eighth century. Its name stems from the ritual washing forming part of the preparations for the conferment of knighthood. The washing was inspired by baptism cleansing, which was a symbol of spiritual purification. Candidates were not knighted until they had prepared themselves through various rituals designed to cleanse them on the inside, for example by fasting, praying or taking part in vigils, and on the outside by bathing.
The Independent
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Watch: Charles and William share touching moment at historic ceremony
A private, sweet moment between King Charles III and the Prince of Wales has been captured on video at Westminster Abbey. The moment happened as the father and son prepared to participate in the historic Order of the Bath service. The King was seen gently patting his son on the arm as they greeted each other, both dressed in crimson satin robes. The service marked the 300th anniversary of the order, which recognises exemplary service from members of the military and Civil Service.
