William: the feelgood prince we can rely on
The Duke’s steady hand is a positive sign for the Royal family’s future, believes Camilla Tominey, Associate Editor
It was the moment Prince William embodied his grandmother’s mantra of keeping calm and carrying on in the face of a crisis. Reacting to the global panic about coronavirus, the Duke of Cambridge raised eyebrows by daring to suggest that the media coverage might have been “a little hyped up”.
Speaking during a tour of Ireland with Kate, the father-of-three spoke about the outbreak as he chatted to emergency workers at a reception in Dublin.
“Does it seem quite dramatic about coronavirus at the moment?” he asked paramedic Joe Mooney. “I bet everyone’s like ‘I’ve got coronavirus, I’m dying’, and you’re like, ‘No, you’ve just got a cough’.”
While it is unclear how the paramedic responded, many watching were able to relate. With coronavirus having dominated the news all week, William – like the professors and other public health experts calling for a sense of perspective – appeared the royal voice of reason.
The Duke, 37, had earlier commented during a reception at the Guinness Storehouse that the royal couple were taking advice on the coronavirus threat but planned to continue meeting people as usual.
He joked: “By the way, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are spreading coronavirus, sorry. We’re keeping an eye on that, so do tell us if we need to stop.”
A source close to the couple later explained: “He was making the point that they’d taken it seriously, while at the same time trying to calm people.”
The comments came after the Queen, who turns 94 next month, was spotted wearing gloves for the first time during an investiture on Tuesday, and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, joked that she was “self-isolating” during a visit to the Transport Museum on Wednesday, when she was photographed taking cover in a one-man air-raid shelter.
The light-hearted remarks were in stark contrast to pictures of commuters wearing gas masks on the Tube, with one particularly paranoid woman even putting a Tupperware box over her head.
In speaking out amid the increasing hysteria over Covid-19, which has seen supermarket shelves stripped bare as people panic-buy against expert advice, William is fast emerging as the Windsors’ resident Captain Sensible.
Naturally, the moniker could be used as a criticism of a couple who appear “safer” and perhaps less “Hollywood” than Harry and Meghan, whose touchy-feely appearance at Thursday night’s Endeavour Awards reminded the world that they remain a force to be reckoned with – even as they prepare to lose their royal status at the end of the month.
Yet as royal author Phil Dampier put it: “The point about the Cambridges is that, yes, they are safe – but that’s arguably exactly what the monarchy needs right now. That, and a sense of humour. The royals have to shake more people’s hands than anyone else so if they can do it with a smile on their faces, we all should.”
Moreover, following a second annus horribilis for the Queen, which saw her dragged into a constitutional crisis over Brexit, the Duke of York embroiled in a sex scandal and Harry and Meghan leave the Firm, William appears intent on spinning a positive message. In December, he launched the Earthshot Prize, his biggest charitable endeavour to date, in a bid to galvanise a decade of action to repair the planet. Described as “the most prestigious environmental prize in history”, the initiative, backed by Sir David Attenborough, aims to encourage and inspire people across the world to find innovative new solutions to one of the gravest problems facing the Earth.
A multi-million-pound prize will be awarded to five winners a year over 10 years, comprising at least 50 solutions to the world’s greatest problems by 2030. According to a source close to the Duke: “It’s about creating a positive environment for change and saying, ‘We can do this’, rather than feeling like it’s all too much of a daunting challenge.
“The Duke has no interest in telling people how to live their lives. He knows people need to fly and drive cars – he has to do the same and he is realistic. What he is trying to do is come up with solutions to the challenges we face. The Earthshot Prize is the biggest thing he has ever undertaken and it is already building a global coalition around the issue.”
Comparisons will inevitably be made between William’s approach and that of his brother, with Harry having courted criticism for preaching about climate change while taking private jets. After the spotlight was shone on the Sussexes’ carbon footprint last summer, the Cambridges were pointedly seen disembarking from a £73 budget flight to Scotland to visit the Queen at Balmoral.
The tensions between the brothers in the run up to “Megxit” have been well documented, and the royal couples will be reunited for the first time on Monday when they attend a Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
Now back on speaking terms following a family summit in January, when senior royals thrashed out the details of the Sussexes’ “royal divorce” deal, all eyes will be on the body language between the quartet formally known as the Fab Four, for what will be Harry and Meghan’s last official royal engagement.
With the Sussexes embarking on a new life outside the Royal family in North America, the onus has fallen even more heavily on William and Kate to step up to the plate and take the monarchy forward without two
‘They are safe – but that’s exactly what the monarchy needs right now’
of its star players. As they prepare to become the next Prince and Princess of Wales – the next step to becoming King and Queen – and with Charles and Camilla already in their 70s, the weight of expectation rests heavily on their shoulders.
Prince George, six, Princess Charlotte, four and Prince Louis, one, will not be in proper royal circulation for another 20 years, meaning the spotlight on William and Kate will only intensify.
Royal watchers noted how “statesmanlike” William appeared in Ireland, insisting that the monarchy was “determined” to play a part in protecting the bond between the UK and Ireland, post-brexit.
“Legal treaties are vital in underpinning the relationships between states. But relationships between people are equally, if not more, essential, especially between the people of our two countries, whose lives, histories and futures are so deeply intertwined,” the Duke said.
He also notably repeatedly referenced the Queen throughout the three-day trip. The pair share the same introverted nature and Her Majesty continues to be his greatest influence as he carves his own path as second in line to the throne.
So what kind of king will William be? One former royal aide described him as a “great leader” and “more compassionate than he’s given credit for”.
The source added: “He doesn’t wear his heart on his sleeve like Harry, but there is an innate compassion there, as there was with Diana, Princess of Wales.
“Of course, he is not perfect, and like all people in his position, there were times when he could be difficult. But he would always think decisions through.
“He would be very mindful of the institution and his role in it. He knew when to step forward, but also when to step back.”
With so much having gone wrong for the House of Windsor in recent months, William is leading the charge to put things right.