It’s not an easy thing to do, tackling tough subjects and making bold decisions while still being caring and compassionate. But the Prince and Princess of Wales are managing to lead with both their heads and their hearts as they focus on modernising the monarchy.
William, 43, and Catherine, 44, have been working on their goal to start overhauling the ancient institution before he becomes monarch. That means some radical changes and power moves that will make his reign very different to his predecessors, such as cutting down on the number of working royals and throwing their weight behind some major issues that are important to them personally. In William’s case that’s homelessness and environmental causes; for Catherine, it’s early childhood development.
They’ve shown they’re very single-minded when it comes to doing things differently, but that they do so with great heart.
“The monarchy needs to move with the times and William is bound to make decisions that don’t go down well with traditionalists,” says a royal aide.
“But it’s clear to everyone that he and Catherine do what they do because they understand what’s needed to keep the monarchy relevant. But they also truly care about helping people. That’s a rare gift.”
William’s bold new vision for the duchy
William has just made the surprising decision to sell off 20 percent of the Duchy of Cornwall, the massive estate that he owns thanks to being the Prince of Wales. It provides him with around $45 million a year, but the estimated $1.14 billion from the sale of properties won’t go into his bank account. Instead, it will be invested in communities within the duchy, including building affordable homes in an effort to reduce homelessness, creating rural jobs and setting up environmental schemes, like installing thousands of solar roof panels.
William doesn’t want to be a traditional landowner, simply pocketing the profit.
“I’m trying to make sure I’m prioritising stuff that’s going to make people’s lives, in those areas, better,” he explains.
Experts say William is reshaping centuries-old tradition
Royal commentator Jennie Bond says William is radically changing a system founded back in 1337 because he is genuinely concerned about homelessness and sustainability.
“This is a powerful example of William putting his money where his mouth is. He has talked about change being on the agenda and now he is proving he is willing to shake things about in quite a dramatic way.”
Similarly, Catherine’s determination to promote the importance of early childhood development is fuelled by a heartfelt belief that the lives of millions of people could be changed for the better if they get
the nurturing they need in their first few years.
Catherine’s Italian visit hailed as a major success
Her recent visit to Italian city Reggio Emilia to view a unique educational method was a huge triumph, with the princess charming locals and being praised for campaigning for such an important cause.
William revealed during a radio interview that Catherine – who he says came back “buzzing” from the trip – has thrown herself into her work to the extent their bedroom is full of paperwork.
“She spends God knows how much time now looking through all the paperwork. She’s a proper pro and most evenings I’m fighting to get past, in the bedroom, all the paperwork she has to read.”
In the past, the royal family has always been aloof and distant, with their private lives kept very much behind palace doors. But the Waleses seem happy to share snippets of information that make them more relatable. For example, they’ve both recently talked about a bad habit their spaniels, Otto and Orla, have.
A more personal side of Prince William emerges
On an official engagement, William told a fellow dog owner, “Ours chew slippers. Anything left on the floor is gone.”
Catherine has also opened up about the dogs, telling garden party guests that Otto “chewed quite a lot the other day”.
Meanwhile, William’s popularity soared after he couldn’t hide his joy when the football team he supports, Aston Villa, won the Europa League. The delighted prince shed a few tears, then astounded the hosts of a football podcast when he called them over for a chat after the match and admitted he was a fan of their show.
Royal correspondent Jasmine Carey says William is “carving his way to being a very successful king”.
“He’s down to earth, showing us sides of himself that are not too dissimilar to us. He will be a king people can really relate to.”
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