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London: Prince William, by far the most popular figure among the Windsors in regular British opinion polls, made a rather significant intervention this week. And it has raised eyebrows across the world.
Of course in Britain’s constitutional monarchy, the royals are expected to keep well out of politics. William’s late grandmother, Elizabeth II, was for 70 years a stickler for the rule that the monarch must be seen as politically neutral. In fact, it’s hard to think of a moment when she let her guard slip.
Prince William visiting the British Red Cross headquarters in London.Credit: Getty Images
Her son, Charles, was given much more leeway. Before becoming King, he had 50-odd years as a worldly and well-educated figure to allow all in his realm to get to know him.
Putting his recent cancer diagnosis to one side, whether his time on the throne is long or short, it will be his lengthy stint as Prince of Wales – the longest ever for an heir to the throne – that will define him.
As such, his opinions on everything from climate change to alternative medicine and architecture are in no way mysterious to us. As recently as a couple of years ago, we learnt that he thinks the UK government’s plan to deport illegal migrants to Rwanda is “appalling”.
By contrast, the late Queen, by virtue of being crowned in her 20s, had to learn on the job.
William, who is 41, has been in his dad’s old job for just a bit over 16 months. As the next in line, he is clearly keen to let the public know what he stands for and how he feels about things before he takes a virtual vow of silence on his accession to the throne. And who knows how long that will be?
The politics of being Prince William
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22.02.2024
What in the World, a free weekly newsletter from our foreign correspondents, is sent every Thursday. Below is an excerpt. Sign up to get the whole newsletter delivered to your inbox.
London: Prince William, by far the most popular figure among the Windsors in regular British opinion polls, made a rather significant intervention this week. And it has raised eyebrows across the world.
Of course in Britain’s constitutional........
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