Prince William should take on more public duties and embrace royal traditions while King Charles battles cancer, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said.
Fitzwilliams told the Daily Mail that while the heir to the British throne was right to prioritise his young family in earlier years, the magnitude of his future role makes it vital for him to step up for the benefit of both Britain and the monarchy.
William disclosed his modernising agenda during an October appearance on actor Eugene Levy's television show, declaring that change for good is on his agenda and that he embraces rather than fears it. However, his progressive approach has seen him buck long-established royal customs, including a reluctance to wear traditional Scottish dress, taking fewer overseas tours, and establishing a permanent home at Forest Lodge in Windsor.
Early in his marriage, William served as a search and rescue pilot with the Royal Air Force before flying for the East Anglian Air Ambulance Service. Fitzwilliams noted that his initial hesitation to assume a full calendar of public engagements gave rise to the nickname "Work Shy Wills", which implied he selected only the duties he wanted to undertake.
Scottish Traditions and the Kilt
King Charles was photographed last week wearing a traditional kilt while planting the King's Rose in the Gardens of Mey during his annual summer visit to Scotland. Donning Scottish attire has long been an unofficial dress code for senior royals visiting engagements north of the border, but William has shown little interest in continuing the practice.
When William graduated from the University of St Andrews in June 2005, he chose not to wear a kilt for the ceremony. Instead, he attended the graduation in a dark suit with a white bow tie and a black silk academic gown lined with red silk.
Fitzwilliams acknowledged that no public figure should be forced to wear clothing they feel uncomfortable in, but noted that the kilt holds deep cultural significance as the national dress of Scotland, having once been banned by the English after the Jacobite Uprising of 1745. He said that while William should not be forced, Scottish citizens would appreciate the gesture on official visits, such as when William and Catherine visited Stirling in January.
International Tours and Patronages
Royal observers have noted that Prince William and Catherine, the Princess of Wales, undertake far fewer international tours than previous royal couples. Fitzwilliams explained that Catherine's health has been the primary focus, expressing delight at her recovery and her recent trip to Italy, while noting that their last joint overseas tour was to the Caribbean in 2022.
Fitzwilliams urged the Prince and Princess of Wales to plan future visits to Australia and New Zealand, European allies, and other Commonwealth nations to build on support for the monarchy. He emphasized that overseas tours represent a vital tool for British soft power, especially given that public approval ratings for the couple in Britain remain above 70 per cent.
The Prince of Wales has also taken a selective approach to royal patronages, which serve to highlight charitable and civic causes across the United Kingdom. King Charles holds nearly 700 patronages, Princess Anne maintains over 300, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh hold more than 70 each, whereas William and Catherine support around 60 organizations. Fitzwilliams observed that while the couple deliver meteoric success for the causes they endorse, expanding their portfolio would benefit public institutions.
Modernising the Duchy of Cornwall
William's progressive mindset is particularly evident in his management of the Duchy of Cornwall, the vast land and property estate created in 1337 to provide an income for the monarch's eldest son. William inherited the estate upon his father's accession to the throne and has moved to modernise its operations.
In an interview with Telegraph Royal Editor Hannah Furness, who accompanied William on visits to estate tenants, the Prince described encouraging staff and tenants to speak candidly. Ahead of a meeting in Dartmoor, William instructed organizers to grant everyone proper authority to say what's really going on rather than remaining overly polite in his presence.
Matthew Morris, the rural director of the Duchy of Cornwall, revealed that estate workers no longer feel required to wear formal ties when the Duke is visiting, contrasting with the formal suits traditionally worn during visits by King Charles. Morris added that William uses WhatsApp to ask questions and communicate directly with staff to remove ambiguity, improve community engagement, and maximize social impact. Fitzwilliams recommended that William maintain his father's financial transparency by continuing to disclose the amount of tax he pays on Duchy revenues.
Choosing Forest Lodge in Windsor
William and Catherine have chosen Windsor's Forest Lodge as their primary home, moving away from historic state residences such as Kensington Palace or Buckingham Palace. William spent much of his childhood at Kensington Palace in London and Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, while King Charles was raised at Buckingham Palace and Clarence House.
A source told the Daily Mail that the couple intend to stay in the Grade II-listed Forest Lodge long term, including after William becomes king. The property is modest compared to other royal residences, such as the 30-room Royal Lodge formerly occupied by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor or Prince Edward's estate at Bagshot Park, which features between 50 and 120 rooms.
Fitzwilliams described the move to Forest Lodge as expected and practical, noting that a modern monarch does not need to live above the shop in a central London palace. However, he added that residing away from traditional royal headquarters is also a pity for visitors to London, who often hope to catch sight of the reigning monarch at Buckingham Palace.
