Prince William's Suitability to be King

[tommy100]

I think William is suitable to be King, he is popular, lives a relatively quiet life without much scandal and so in that sense is more suitable than many other sovereigns before him.
I do think, unless there is a huge change in the coming years, he will be a different King from what we are use to with QE2 and now King Charles III. There will be less emphasis on day to day duties, getting out and about round the country meeting people and visiting most places in the UK over social media to reach the population and fewer engagements and fewer charities supported. (That will be tricky for some people to accept, myself included, but that doesn't make him unsuitable) But is that really the job of the sovereign anyway? Constitutionally he doesn't have to do any of this and I think he will absolutely carry out his constitutional duties e.g. privy council meetings etc.

 

[ofkingsandqueens]

I think William is suitable to be King, he is popular, lives a relatively quiet life without much scandal and so in that sense is more suitable than many other sovereigns before him.
I do think, unless there is a huge change in the coming years, he will be a different King from what we are use to with QE2 and now King Charles III. There will be less emphasis on day to day duties, getting out and about round the country meeting people and visiting most places in the UK over social media to reach the population and fewer engagements and fewer charities supported. (That will be tricky for some people to accept, myself included, but that doesn't make him unsuitable) But is that really the job of the sovereign anyway? Constitutionally he doesn't have to do any of this and I think he will absolutely carry out his constitutional duties e.g. privy council meetings etc.

i agree. i think William has accepted his fate and will ascend to the throne when the time comes, but do i see him carrying out as many engagements as his father and grandmother? probably not.
but if he does scale back, i think the anti-monarchy calls will become louder.

 

[Muhler]

It's a question of resources. With fewer active royal around, they can only do an X number of engagements.
And (and this question is best answered by British subjects) will the public prefer ribbon-cutting events or that the BRF engage themselves with fewer causes but instead more directly and deeper involved? Also in regards to subjects that previously might have been considered too "political", say domestic abuse, women's rights, education and so on, in the sense that they stick their necks out and actually say something not everybody will agree with.
Also, with the ever increasing role of social media, wont the BRF also, simply out of necessity, also have to become a kind of influencers? After all they must also have to stay relevant to younger and upcoming generations.
Until now the BRF could always send a minor royal out to cut a ribbon or present a trophy and say a few uncontroversial words. That's pretty safe. But is it enough for the future?
With fewer royals around, they can cover less ground and as such there will be fewer ribbon-cutting events. So will reading about or watching a news segment about William presenting an award somewhere be enough for the BRF to stay interesting and relevant to the younger generations?
In contrast will (predominantly) W&K involving themselves in caused where they can actually use their influence make them more relevant? And if you think so, will W&K be able to carry out such a more focused and sometimes even controversial task?

 

[victor1319]

In my humble opinion everything about the work load of now Crown Prince William has to be seen in the light of the fact, that his wife was/is not well! Whether her cancer is gone or not... We don't know! We only know, what we are carefully fed. I mean, it all started with an alledged stomach operation... That was not really the truth...

 

[Alison H]

No-one ever actually said that it was a stomach operation. They said "abdominal surgery", which could have meant any of a number of things. Catherine has said that she's in remission. Illness does make you rethink things, though, and, yes, it's certainly affected William's workflow.

The monarchy will adapt to changing times. It always does. But I think that the royals will always need to be seen out and about.

 

[Hallo girl]

In my humble opinion everything about the work load of now Crown Prince William has to be seen in the light of the fact, that his wife was/is not well! Whether her cancer is gone or not... We don't know! We only know, what we are carefully fed. I mean, it all started with an alledged stomach operation... That was not really the truth...

For accuracy it was as a result of the surgery that they found evidence of cancer, they have not been specific about the original problem. Why should she tell us. Nobody was being misleading.

 

[tommy100]

William has never worked that hard, even before Catherine was ill, he was always performing less engagements that other royals. However, it is completely fair to say we haven't had anything resembling a "normal year" for the now Prince & Princess of Wales so they may well step up their public engagements now. I don't think they will because I think they see themselves in a different role in a different way to the traditional "royal duties" that say, Princess Anne, does. They will do less and do more from afar i.e though video messages, social media etc. Personally, I am not sure going completely that way is right as otherwise they become no different from other 'influencers' and IMO there needs to be a level of personal link between the monarchy and the people for it to be supported. Yes there will be fewer royals about (infact loads less) to do the "everyday" duties like cutting ribbons on new leisure centres etc but there does need to be some element of that 'civic duty' to elevate them beyond mere celebrities.
I think William will make a good King in many ways but hard working won't be what he is known for, it will be a different way of working and it will have some advantages, for example we will probably have a more connected, happier, family as a royal family.

 

[HenRach Dominion]

I guess the real question is what makes a monarch suitable or unsuitable? Is the ideal monarch:

- Relatable?
- An example of the best of their constituents?
- An ambassador for their country to the rest of the world?
- Someone who showcases the causes and businesses important to their country?
- A neutral symbol that a variety of political parties can stand behind?
- Celebrities?
- Clotheshorses?
- Influencers?
- Relics of a bygone era?

Naturally, most monarchs are mixtures of several of these depending on the circumstances. Ultimately, what makes someone a good or bad monarch is subjective, influenced by age, attachment to the monarchy, the personality of the monarch, etc.

HRH The Prince of Wales, within the last five years, has had to experience the deaths of two grandparents, an aunt, and a cousin-in-law, the joint cancers of his father and wife, and just generally raising three young children. There’s no guarantee that he would have worked more if none of those things had happened, but it’s not a far reach to say that those events have convinced him that he should focus more, not less, on his family.

Maybe being the guy who is a good father and good husband is what resonates with the British people. As shown in other forums, HRH The Prince of Wales is very popular with his constituents, so many of them don’t have a problem with him focusing more on his family and his personal projects. Maybe the critiques of his work ethic are slightly overblown.

On the other hand, the traditional responsibilities of royalty are there for a reason: the pomp and circumstance tie the constituents together in a sense of community, history, and patriotism. The monarchy in general and the monarch in particular is the symbol of that, and a monarch putting themself on the level of everyone else will lead to people wondering what’s the point of a monarchy in the first place.

God willing, HRH The Prince of Wales will have at least two decades to figure that balance out, when his kids are adults and his wife’s health isn’t so precarious.

 

[blooms_rulers]

HRH The Prince of Wales, within the last five years, has had to experience the deaths of two grandparents, an aunt, and a cousin-in-law, the joint cancers of his father and wife, and just generally raising three young children.

I think you mean uncle. Ladies Jane and Sarah are both still alive, though Lady Jane's husband has passed away. Princess Anne, Sophie and Sarah Ferguson are all alive.

 

[Somebody]

As far as I am aware, the British don't vote for their royal family, so I don't think think the British citizens are William's constituents.

 

[sophie25]

I think William and Kate will step up when the time comes, as they know it would be a disappointment to the people of the UK if they didn't. And let's face it, if William didn't want to be King he could have given up his position in the line of succession, and Harry could probably even want to be King, we don't know.
But I say, I'm sure that Eugenie or Beatrice, if given the opportunity, would perform the role of monarch perfectly.
But I believe William can be a good king, and I hope he still surprises positively as Prince of Wales, just like Catherine.

If it really came to Beatrice or Eugenie having to step in then forget it, the people would demand a referendum at that point.

 

[duke of poliganc]

William's popularity partly stems from being Diana's son, his youthful charm, and his "Disney royal wedding" with a popular wife and adorable kids. However, in 10-20 years, when they're in their 50s and 60s, their youthful appeal will fade. As time passes, the connection to Diana will also weaken, especially among younger generations born 25+ years after her death.

Their future popularity will depend on what they accomplish in the next decade. While focusing on family is important, it won't sustain their popularity in the long run. In contrast, Prince Charles and Princess Anne faced popularity challenges early on but managed to regain favor later in life by increasing their workload and engagements.

If a poll were conducted based on practical reasons rather than celebrity appeal, I believe Princess Anne would top the list, even above the King and Prince of Wales. She's perceived as a no-nonsense person who prioritizes work and duty.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

No-one ever actually said that it was a stomach operation. They said "abdominal surgery", which could have meant any of a number of things. Catherine has said that she's in remission. Illness does make you rethink things, though, and, yes, it's certainly affected William's workflow.

The monarchy will adapt to changing times. It always does. But I think that the royals will always need to be seen out and about.

Alison H, I completely agree that the royals need to be seen out and about. Seeing the royals on television is not the same as seeing them in person.

 

[victor1319]

..., they have not been specific about the original problem. Why should she tell us. Nobody was being misleading.

I was trying to say, that when we try to predict Crown Prince William's work load in the future, we have to consider, that nowadays is not normal for the Wales family and we cannot extrapolate the future from here.

 

[Muhler]

If it really came to Beatrice or Eugenie having to step in then forget it, the people would demand a referendum at that point.

That bad? Didn't realize they are that unpopular.

But if we are to look at it analytical.
If we consider that King Charles will remain in reasonable working order for another ten years. - Because he will inevitably become more frail, no matter how good his genes are, no matter his lifestyle and medical treatment. Time always prevails in the end.
Then the critical period is in 10-20 years from now. Until W&K's children are old enough to take over.
That's a 10-15 year period where the BRF will be overstretched. So:
- Who can step up to assist more? I.e. who is physically able to be available among the current BRF pool.
- Who can be recruited to assist? At least on a part-time basis.
- What demographic groups should they focus on in order to keep the BRF relevant in the future? (Brutally speaking preteen children and people with one foot in the grave can be ignored during this period.)
- What demographic groups contain the most royalists/monarchists?
- How should they be in touch with and reach out to more people with a smaller number of royals?
- How do they stay relevant to the upcoming and younger segments of the population? I.e. the 15-35 age group in particular.
Is there something they could or should focus on, that would gather the support, interest or at least the approval of various age-groups? I.e. the young. The parents. The grandparents. Children. Oldest. - And IMO in that order.
- How do they cover more ground with fewer people? And here IMO social media plays a role.
- Should they do more pomp and circumstances? Or at least make it bigger when they do?
- Should they mingle more with people? Like in community centers, clubs, shelters, schools, workplaces. That is talk and listen more in depth to albeit fewer ordinary people, rather than being seen, waving and shaking a few hands. So that a personal meeting really means something for the individual?

- I have the distinct feeling that William isn't that keen on pomp and circumstances. IMO that is something he will have to work on, because the royal show appeals to a lot of people! Also those who complain...
I also have the feeling that William is introvert, which doesn't necessarily make him a bad king, on the contrary in fact. Introvert tend to listen and observe more than they speak. Because no one can speak and listen at the same time...
So I think the introvert members of the BRF should do the listening while the extrovert members should be out and about and be seen while waving and shaking hands.
You get my meaning?
At present it's Mrs Alsop's neighbors daughter's friend, Alice, who once shook hands with William at the opening of a local hospice. With fewer BRF members in the future, that chain will become longer. So the BRF can't just keep focusing on cutting ribbons, they need to be able reach out to everyone, and actually reach as many as possible who are interested, and here they need to go online IMO. And for that not becoming a "hi everybody, here we are with our new kitten" they also need to have a relevant message or cause to bring out and debate. In other words interact with people online.

 

[Hallo girl]

It is a catch 22, a smaller group of working royals cost less but accomplish less, it is the fine balance of cost while also out there keeping the flag flying.

 

[Alison H]

I don't think that Beatrice and Eugenie are unpopular. Back in the days of Beatrice taking 25 holidays in a week or whatever, maybe, but not now. And Zara is certainly very popular. But I don't think that we're going to see any of them taking on royal duties, and I doubt that Louise and James will go down that road either. So it's a question of how the current group of working royals keep things going until the Wales children are old enough to become involved.

I remember seeing the Queen and Prince Philip when they came to Manchester for the Commonwealth Games in 2002, and it really was so exciting. I was buzzing afterwards. You don't get that from seeing someone on TV.

Having said that, I think that people like seeing the royals on TV at big events. That doesn't have to mean pomp and circumstance. The main reason why the Duchess of Kent, in her heyday, was so popular was that people associated her with Wimbledon. People like to see Catherine at Wimbledon and William at the Cup Final. People remember Diana being at Live Aid, even if Charles did insist on leaving early! For that matter, people loved seeing the late Queen with Paddington Bear. I'm not saying that the entire Royal Family needs to pose with Paddington Bear , but things like that make the headlines and make people smile.

 

[Villager90]

I think he needs to start being more visible up and down the country.

I understand he’s a family man but they have several homes. A team of staff. He could do three days worth of engagement a week. At the moment I don’t see this.

What I do see is someone travelling to go watch Aston Villa abroad.

The king can’t rely on Anne and the edinburghs indefinitely.

 

[tommy100]

Yes I agree he needs to be seen more around the country, I'm intrigued to see if they start doing more in Wales as atm its a very tokenistic effort which is hopefully just a sign of how bad a year /18 months it has been for them. I guess part of the issue is that the UK has had two relatively hardworking monarchs for the past 80 years, Queen Elizabeth II and now King Charles who both took the model of doing hundreds of engagements every year all across the UK. In some sense the modern UK doesn't know a sovereign who doesn't do that, which is what I fear William may become. This old/current way of working led to the late Queen's staff coining the phrase "Head of Nation" to show what the late Queen saw as her role - not just being "Head of State" and what that involves constitutionally but also the idea of the Sovereign being the head of the nation at almost a civic level - the royal family website states:

The Monarch has a less formal role as 'Head of Nation'. The Sovereign acts as a focus for national identity, unity and pride; gives a sense of stability and continuity; officially recognises success and excellence; and supports the ideal of voluntary service.

I suspect this is the part, particularly the last bits, that we will see less of in many ways under William. Yes he will recognise success and excellence but it will be on a larger scale - congratulating national sports teams etc not so much congratulating the local community of XYZ for all efforts to fundraise and open a new library, school etc. I don't think he will have that more localised focus. I get that part of that won't be possible with a reduced working royal family, of course it won't. But William has shown no interest in doing that sort of thing now, or even ten years ago, when the RF had more than enough people to do it. IMO there is a fine balance between being too localised, which is unmanageable, but also too national and too distant which makes people wonder - "what is the point in that royal family down South, they don't care about us". Just my opinion.

William's popularity is a good sign and it will help him be a very good King but I do worry sometimes that it is, I guess, not built upon much. The late Queen and even the now King, heck even Princess Anne, all survived being unpopular at times by being very, very hardworking so in the end people warmed to them and whatever else they may have thought people came to respect them for that hardwork. William's popularity is based on having a lovely family, being seen as relatable, young and cool - they are not the strongest foundations IMO, especially if, or when, there is a misstep. In the days after Diana's death the Queen and Charles put their heads down and quietly just got on with it, it got them through the period of unpopularity.

 

[Ghost]

I think he needs to start being more visible up and down the country.

I understand he’s a family man but they have several homes. A team of staff. He could do three days worth of engagement a week. At the moment I don’t see this.

What I do see is someone travelling to go watch Aston Villa abroad.

The king can’t rely on Anne and the edinburghs indefinitely.

He did go to Scotland for homewards in Aberdeen and to Cornwall for that thing with the farmers’ mental health.

 

[tommy100]

I think he needs to go to places not just for specific events, the late Queen use to do "away days" where she would go visit a place and do lots of different things there, allowing her to get an overview of lots of different things happening there. I actually thing that is probably quite hard to fit in as sovereign, especially if trying to work with less royals in support, but would be a great thing for William and Catherine to do be doing now as Prince & Princess of Wales.

 

[RoyalNight]

IMO William will be a good king someday. He and the Princess may increase their workload when the kids are teens and will have their own things to do.
I think William’s „strongest point” is his loving and close family. People love to see a happy royal marriage and adorable, well-rounded kids.

 

[Curryong]

If it is going to be a question of waiting until Louis, the youngest, is about 16 before William and Kate increase their workload to anything comparable to say 200 engagements a year for Kate and say 250 a year for William, that is going to be a considerable length of time for the British public to wait.

Diana, in the years her sons were at Ludgrove boarding school, undertook quite a large number of engagements per year, and Charles did double her total, I believe.

Even if William and Kate do much less I cant see the country responding well to less than 300 engagements each for the heir and his wife.

And how do we know that all three Wales offspring are going to always be well rounded and adorable etc? Teenage rebellion comes in many forms and it’s hardly likely that none of the three are never going to kick over the traces at any time.

 

[RoyalNight]

I don’t see a point in speculating about what teenaged Wales kids might or might not do.

As you wrote, Charles and Diana did a lot of engagements when their kids were away in boarding school. The Wales kids live at home at the moment (and it might stay that way for a long time). And there are 3 of them with wider age span than William & Harry. No point of comparing William to his parents. Different people, different situations.

 

[Curryong]

However, this entire thread is devoted to speculations of all kinds, as none of us know what sort of King William will make. And the fact is that he is not yet in that position.

 

[BriarRose]

Personally, I think William is never going to be a monarch who does 365 engagements in a year. He's going to stick to what's required (which is not many appearances), and a few pet projects that are meaningful to him.

And I think he will be fine. I think that he's a traumatized man who has become very introverted as a way of coping. But there are other introverted monarchs who seem to build popularity over time.

The anti-monarchists would have it out for him no matter what he does or doesn't do. The royalists will maintain their support. And suppose the monarchy were removed in a referendum. In that case, I think William and Catherine would be secretly happy, after the way the world spread malicious lies about them in the early days so Catherine's cancer. I can't imagine they want their children to go through such a thing.

 

[shady lady]

...

And how do we know that all three Wales offspring are going to always be well rounded and adorable etc? Teenage rebellion comes in many forms and it’s hardly likely that none of the three are never going to kick over the traces at any time.

It's possible, but likely they'll grow out of it - as most kids do. There are always exceptions of course

 

[HenRach Dominion]

I’m curious…what triggered this new round of speculation about HRH The Prince of Wales’s suitability? I don’t mean in this thread, as it’s dedicated to the topic, but in general. Of course, internet’s gonna internet, but it seems more persistent than usual? Is is being talked about in traditional press? Has there been complaints from a significant amount of the British people? Is it because of the third holiday? How is different than any other year for him?

 

[Alison H]

No complaints, and no discussion in the press! I think it just started from questions about the latest holiday.

 

[sophie25]

No complaints, and no discussion in the press! I think it just started from questions about the latest holiday.

I think people are questioning when they will do more, including some foreign official travel, now that Catherine is clearly fit enough to travel abroad ( including long haul to Mustique) and even ski, which requires a degree of physical fitness. This has reignited the question of the suitability of both of them to sit on the throne, not just William. Many people are perceiving a reluctance to do royal duties, myself included.