Duke of Cambridge: What Now for William? Future Duties, Roles, Responsibilities

[Osipi]

Neither William or Harry and in fact, any of the BRF can jump right in and say "I'm gonna do 100+ engagements next month and then take the rest of the year off". It doesn't work that way. Most engagements are planned many, many months in advance.
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[Skippyboo]

Not to mention you have to be invited.

How about we discuss things that we would like to see William do now that he out of the RAF and has his home base at Apt 1a KP?

-Trip to Afghanistan to visit the Irish Guards
-More multiple royal engagements with the PoW or DoE or Queen.
-Visit a navy base so he can put on the yummy Royal Navy uniform

 

[Duchess of Durham]

Not to mention you have to be invited.

How about we discuss things that we would like to see William do now that he out of the RAF and has his home base at Apt 1a KP?

-Trip to Afghanistan to visit the Irish Guards
-More multiple royal engagements with the PoW or DoE or Queen.
-Visit a navy base so he can put on the yummy Royal Navy uniform

Oooo, yes William in any uniform.

 

[Calenei]

Would love to see William doing more engagements with his Grandparents.
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[Osipi]

Would love to see William doing more engagements with his Grandparents.

We all know that the Cambridges headed to Balmoral to spend some time with HM and for George to meet his great grandfather recently.

I had an odd thought. From what I understand, a lot of times the hiatus in Scotland is sometimes used for a gathering of The Way Ahead committee. I'm just wondering if perhaps William attended this year.

 

[royalistbert]

William has just finished a job as RAF rescue pilot a really dangerous and stressful job. Can we all give him a chance to settle in to his new home with his wife and son. William will gradually take on more engagements and duties overtime. Clearly these first few months since the birth of George are going to be quiet engagement wise. Once things settle down I am sure engagements will pick up.

God the way people have reacted it's like William will never work again. Some people just need to calm down.

 

[GrammaSueSue]

I had an odd thought. From what I understand, a lot of times the hiatus in Scotland is sometimes used for a gathering of The Way Ahead committee. I'm just wondering if perhaps William attended this year.

I have a feeling it was that and a session of the " Future POW/King School".

 

[soapstar]

William may not have served two tours in Afghanistan, but he did serve his country during his time as a search and rescue pilot. I commend both him and Harry for putting their lives on the line and serving - in whatever capacity they could.

I agree, royalistberet. It's only been a few months since the birth of George and the end of his RAF job.

In the statement from KP, they said there would be a further announcement in regards to the role William wants to play, so it sounds like there is still a lot of behind the scenes stuff to be hashed out. I imagine it might be a bit quiet until the new year, then I expect (or at least hope) that both William and Kate will step it up - the time has come for William to start taking on a more prominent role in the BRF. Whatever duties he decides to take on next year, I definitely see an overseas tour of Australia in the cards.

As for comparing the two brothers, it serves no purpose. I think both of them have done an admirable job with their charities and royal duties.

 

[Osipi]

I have a feeling it was that and a session of the " Future POW/King School".

It definitely would be a good time to sit down with the Firm and make a plan of action of where to go from here. Whatever it is William decides to do in the near future, you have to know that it would have to have the assent and approval of HM. Its just deciding exactly where to start that takes thinking about.

One thing for sure, he'll learn from the best in his father and his grandfather. It also is kind of nice that William will be in the wings to fill in for either of his grandparents or even his father should a medical situation arise.

 

[GrammaSueSue]

I agree completely...wish I could have been a fly on the wall during the talks/planning.
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[Iluvbertie]

Number 1, I think William and Catherine need to make an overseas trip to a colony soon. Australia is apparently on the cards, Henry is off there this year.

Australia is NOT a colony and hasn't been for over a century.

That comment is insulting to Australia and Australians.

We are a proud independent nation which makes its own way in the world and doesn't bow down to London anymore.

Our government invites some members of the BRF to visit us on occasions - it is our decision not theirs.

 

[Iluvbertie]

I have a feeling it was that and a session of the " Future POW/King School".

Based on various comments by the children of The Queen there is no such thing.

The next generation learn by watching and doing and not by having any 'school' other than the Sunday afternoons William spent with his grandmother while he was at Eton to learn about his future role.

As he has been a Counsellor of State for over 10 years, has sat in on meetings of the Duchy of Cornwall, and done royal duties if he doesn't know what to do not then his father and grandmother are dealing with a very slow learner.

 

[GrammaSueSue]

That is exactly what I was talking about...talking with, listening to, and spending time with those from whom he can learn...not "school" literally.
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[cepe]

I've read some of the comments about engagements and although I thought I knew how it all worked, maybe I'm confusticated.

Trips to foreign lands including commonwealth countries representing HMQ - approval required by HMQ; HMQ's government and government of the country to be visited.

Specific trade enhancing trips - government offices and countries to be visited.
Trips overseas representing charities, ie WWF - let the government and HMQ know
Trips for international organisations ie IOC - let the government and HMQ know
Trips overseas representing DoE scheme - let the DoE and governments

Trips around the UK - just get on with it!

Always check security arrangements; health situation (plague of locusts and that sort of thing) and local political situation.

The idea that the Queen has to approve everything is mind boggling and would indicate she doesn't trust her family - nor would she have the capacity (and by that I also mean her office).

This is probably the wrong thread but the thought is the deed, and the approval comments are on here.

Views appreciated - and is it another thread?

 

[Osipi]

I do think it would make an interesting thread on its own but also, in this case, fit in under duties, roles and responsibilities (although this thread pertains to the Cambridges).

I would imagine that anything anyone in the BRF does representing Queen and country would have to have her stamp of approval on it. It wasn't long ago that it was mentioned in the Annual Engagements thread that the difference between engagements being in the court circular and a private engagement (such as Beatrice and Eugenie going to Germany) is that they're engagements representing the Queen and also approved by her.

Perhaps we've discovered one of the myriad of things that could be in the red boxes the HM gets and takes care of daily (except for Christmas day and Easter I believe).

The Firm really is a well oiled machine.
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[Iluvbertie]

All overseas visits for any form of official duty is approved by The Queen and the government.

There is also a lot of 'pre-work' to be done e.g. security will visit the venues etc a couple of weeks in advance and go through the planned programme looking for potential problems - this happens at home as well. It is also why the detailed itinerary isn't released until close to the event as the details have to be approved by security.

There will also be negotiations between the two governments involved and/or the staff of the royal involved and the local officials to ensure a smooth event for the royal concerned including notes on the people being presented and the cause.

When everything is ready The Queen will give her official consent for an overseas event and yes it is in the red boxes for her signature or approved verbally in the privy council - the nitty gritty of the details aren't necessarily known by her but, for instance, she would have approved Harry's upcoming trip to Australia (first rumoured in February but not confirmed until about 2 weeks ago with further details still to be announced tomorrow or even on Saturday - they aren't announcing exactly where you can go to see him after the review as the areas are restricted in numbers of people and they are concerned that there could be problems if they say 'The Rocks' which is limited to about 8000 people but not to far away will be another 30000 people who could cause a crush if it was known that he was going there for his 'short walkabout') but she won't know all the details necessarily.

They do have some 'emergency plans' as well so that if they need a royal to go somewhere to look sympathetic after a disaster they can do so - but even so they do tend to do that a week or more after the disaster to ensure the basics are in place.

It is a well-oiled machine and works but in the end The Queen does have to approve overseas visits and she gets to decide which engagements are official and which ones aren't.

 

[NGalitzine]

...The idea that the Queen has to approve everything is mind boggling and would indicate she doesn't trust her family - nor would she have the capacity (and by that I also mean her office).

In one of the Jubilee interviews the Duke of York said that HM is the only one in the family who knows what everyone's schedules are, and that if she see that everyone is going to be in the same county/region at the same time she will question through her Private Secretary why that has happened. Other family members have no idea what is on each others schedules.
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[GrammaSueSue]

Thank you both for the explanations...I find the topic very interesting!!!

 

[Warren]

As this thread is not the arena for a "William vs Harry: Who is Better?" competition, all such posts and replies to them have been removed.
A reminder that copyrighted images which are directly posted or hotlinked will also be removed.
In any case, as the thread topic is "What Now for William?" there should be no need for photos of past events.

thanks,
Warren
British Forums moderator

 

[cepe]

Thanks mfs. Looks like I've got it there or there abouts. Seems that HMQ might question home stuff once she sees the schedules (or her office - bringing it her attention if necessary).

Quote from Iluvbertie
It is a well-oiled machine and works but in the end The Queen does have to approve overseas visits and she gets to decide which engagements are official and which ones aren't.

It seems to me that if you are on the royal "books" (ie the York girls are not) and the causes are approved ..(??) then its official.

Perhaps the key for the UK is - approved causes/patronages and keep within budget.

 

[Iluvbertie]

Not necessarily - I remember Harry's trip to Lesotho earlier this year and he did some things on the second day that were related to his charity but they didn't make it into the CC while other similar events in the UK have. Even who attends some things e.g. there was an event earlier this year that all the family attended officially except for Andrew - who was there but not mentioned in the CC.

 

[cepe]

I think I covered that with "approved causes" -

 

[Warren]

nteresting ideas, but not that straightforward, IMO.
The DoE does not run [Balmoral and Sandringham], there is an estate manager at each. he may have oversight, so that could take up as much as 1 day a month.

Nonetheless William will one day be the legal owner of Balmoral and Sandringham and whatever Charles owns privately outside of the Duchy of Cornwall. In the broader context he will need a firm grasp of the Royal finances - both public and private. We can assume that he has an understanding of how his own personal trust(s) are managed and that his father and Duchy staff have provided some detail about the Duchy of Cornwall. He still needs to learn how the Duchy of Lancaster operates and in a future Sovereign to Sovereign transfer, which private monies and assets will directly and indirectly come to him.

Yes, there are bankers, tax specialists, lawyers, accountants, estate managers and advisers who know parts of the picture, but I'd imagine that each successive [modern] monarch would have a pretty firm grasp of what he or she privately owns, where those assets are located, the financial structures created to house and protect them, the various income streams produced, the overall cash flow, the nature of the private outgoings, the return on investment etc etc.

While this may be one of the more interesting areas to explore, it's unlikely that any of us will at any stage be any the wiser regarding the Windsor private wealth and its management. However, the extent, preservation and increase of the family fortune is a subject that Prince William will need to master. Doing so will take some time, and one thing we can be sure about is that there won't be a press release issued advising us of the fact.

 

[Iluvbertie]

Nonetheless William will one day be the legal owner of Balmoral and Sandringham (and maybe the Highgrove estate as well). In the broader context he will need a firm grasp of the Royal finances - both public and private. We can assume that he has an understanding of how his own personal trust(s) are managed and that his father and Duchy staff have provided some detail about the Duchy of Cornwall. He still needs to learn how the Duchy of Lancaster operates and in a future Sovereign to Sovereign transfer, which private monies and assets will directly and indirectly come to him.

1. He may not get Balmoral or Sandringham as they are private properties and although it is probably (99.9% probable) that The Queen will leave the properties to Charles and from there he will probably (again 99.9% probable) that he will leave them to William it is possible that The Queen will leave those properties to someone else. They aren't automatically the property of the monarch as seen in 1936 when George VI had to actually buy them back from Edward VIII who was left them as personal property. Had he refused to sell them to his brother they would already have left royal hands in all probability.

2. Highgrove will be William's when he become Duke of Cornwall as it is part of the Duchy estate. Charles leases it from the Duchy.

3. The Queen was able to take over the running of the Duchy of Lancaster at 25 with very little training - by the time William gets there he should have had a few decades of running the Duchy of Cornwall first and his own private estates from Diana would take some running now which he is doing.

Yes, there are bankers, tax specialists, lawyers, accountants, estate managers and advisers who know parts of the picture, but I'd imagine that each successive [modern] monarch would have a pretty firm grasp of what he or she privately owns, where those assets are located, the financial structures created to house and protect them, the various income streams produced, the overall cash flow, the nature of the private outgoings, the return on investment etc etc.

I would suggest that at 25 The Queen wasn't all that well versed in these areas at all for the simple reason that she was so young that they expected her to have years to learn that stuff but she managed quite well.

While this may be one of the more interesting areas to explore, it's unlikely that any of us will at any stage be any the wiser regarding the Windsor private wealth and its management. However, the extent, preservation and increase of the family fortune is a subject that Prince William will need to master. Doing so will take some time, and one thing we can be sure about is that there won't be a press release issued advising us of the fact.

If they haven't already started teaching him that stuff they have been failing him as they can't tell when he would need to know this.

The Queen, having become Queen at such a young age, was determined to educate her son, and grandson, about this sort of stuff which is why William visited her from Eton when at school to learn about his future role.

 

[Iluvbertie]

I think I covered that with "approved causes" -

Not necessarily e.g. a polo game in Britain for Sentebele mightn't make it into the CC but a polo game in the US for Sentebele will - or vice versa - even two royals attending the same event for the same cause doesn't necessarily see them both acknowledged e.g. early this year Anne gave a speech at a conference and was mentioned in the CC while most of the coverage of the event was on Charles' attending but he didn't get a mention in the CC - same event, same cause so obviously an 'approved cause' but only Anne was mentioned in the CC.

There is also the example of all of them - Charles, Camilla, Edward, Sophie, Anne and Tim getting credit for attending an event but not Andrew who attended the same event but wasn't mentioned.

 

[cepe]

Not necessarily e.g. a polo game in Britain for Sentebele mightn't make it into the CC but a polo game in the US for Sentebele will - or vice versa - even two royals attending the same event for the same cause doesn't necessarily see them both acknowledged e.g. early this year Anne gave a speech at a conference and was mentioned in the CC while most of the coverage of the event was on Charles' attending but he didn't get a mention in the CC - same event, same cause so obviously and 'approved cause' but only Anne was mentioned in the CC.

There is also the example of all of them - Charles, Camilla, Edward, Sophie, Anne and Tim getting credit for attending an event but not Andrew who attended the same event but wasn't mentioned.

Crikey! I'm banjaxed. its 0300 in the morning and I should be in bed. I'll think about this and try to respond in a sensible manner. Tricky!

Thanks to all for responses. I would love to crack this one. Night all!

 

[Warren]

..I would suggest that at 25 The Queen wasn't all that well versed in these areas at all for the simple reason that she was so young that they expected her to have years to learn that stuff but she managed quite well...

HM was fortunate that the Duke of Edinburgh took an interest in the private (and public) finances from an early date but even so I don't doubt that HM herself kept an eye on the books as any astute landowner with many disparate assets would. Merely surmising on my part but I'd imagine the private royal finances and spread of investments are somewhat more complex today than they would have been in 1952 and William will need some time to fully understand them. That's if he's interested of course, otherwise he could leave everything in the hands of advisers and accountants, although I'd like to think he's smarter than that.

nb.. you quoted my post before I amended the reference to Highgrove.
On a related but not-so-relevant tangent, Prince George may soon, if not already, be the future benficiary of three separate trusts, set up by his great-grandmother, his grandfather and his father.

 

[Iluvbertie]

They set up smaller trusts, if any, for future monarchs.

That is what caused some of the money problems in 1936 - the fact that Edward VIII didn't have a trust fund set up by anyone and thus had no income after stepping down as King while George VI did have a trust fund established for him as the second son. Of course Edward did accumulate wealth as Duke of Cornwall but he wasn't the beneficiary of trust funds from his great-grandmother, grandfather or father. Whether the same thing will happen with George who knows but it is highly likely that a small fund might be established for him but not on the scale of what is established for other children, grand-children and great-grandchildren - simply because he will get the vast majority of the monarch's wealth in time.

 

[Lumutqueen]

Australia is NOT a colony and hasn't been for over a century. That comment is insulting to Australia and Australians. We are a proud independent nation which makes its own way in the world and doesn't bow down to London anymore. Our government invites some members of the BRF to visit us on occasions - it is our decision not theirs.

It was the first word that came to mind, my apologies to the entire nation of Australia for insulting them. Jeez.

 

[Nice Nofret]

Nonetheless William will one day be the legal owner of Balmoral and Sandringham and whatever Charles owns privately outside of the Duchy of Cornwall. In the broader context he will need a firm grasp of the Royal finances - both public and private. We can assume that he has an understanding of how his own personal trust(s) are managed and that his father and Duchy staff have provided some detail about the Duchy of Cornwall. He still needs to learn how the Duchy of Lancaster operates and in a future Sovereign to Sovereign transfer, which private monies and assets will directly and indirectly come to him.

Yes, there are bankers, tax specialists, lawyers, accountants, estate managers and advisers who know parts of the picture, but I'd imagine that each successive [modern] monarch would have a pretty firm grasp of what he or she privately owns, where those assets are located, the financial structures created to house and protect them, the various income streams produced, the overall cash flow, the nature of the private outgoings, the return on investment etc etc.

While this may be one of the more interesting areas to explore, it's unlikely that any of us will at any stage be any the wiser regarding the Windsor private wealth and its management. However, the extent, preservation and increase of the family fortune is a subject that Prince William will need to master. Doing so will take some time, and one thing we can be sure about is that there won't be a press release issued advising us of the fact.

That's exactly my point of view. Besides the financial side of his inheritance, he also has to understand the practical side of the buisnesses - otherwith he will never be on top of the managers and advisors.