WE’RE NOT TRAPPED
THE COUPLE ARE FINDING STRENGTH IN FAMILY AND DUTY
Wills and Kate embrace their destiny
It was, to all intents and purposes, a fairly run-of-themill visit by members of the royal family to a country that plays an important part in Great Britain. But Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge’s trip to Scotland last week was also the perfect opportunity for the couple to show how they’re embracing their destiny as the future King and Queen.
Following the assertions made by Prince Harry in interviews that his older brother is “trapped” in his royal role, William has displayed a steely determination to prove that he doesn’t feel shackled by the position he was born into.
Joined by his wife Kate, 39, he’s done that by throwing himself into his duties even more enthusiastically than ever and working tirelessly on behalf
of his grandmother the Queen.
In Scotland, a relentless schedule of engagements – some in William’s capacity as Lord High Commissioner to the Church of Scotland – endeared the couple to everyone who met them. Neil Richardson, the CEO of a charity that helps people with mental health and addiction issues, summed up the reaction of many fellow Scots when he said, “Everyone commented on it – they were just lovely people.”
In some circles, the six-day visit was seen as a “charm offensive” by the royal family to try to convince the Scottish people to remain a part of Great Britain, as there’s a push from some groups for a second referendum on whether Scotland should become independent.
But William and Kate don’t just want to win the Scots over, say royal insiders. With the whole family shaken by allegations made by Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, including those of bullying and bad parenting, William feels it’s up to him to show that he has a different take on royal life to his brother, and that their family is still a valuable part of the fabric of life in Britain and the Commonwealth.
Royal protocol and his own sense of duty don’t allow William to dispute his brother’s claims in a tit-for-tat interview, so supported by Kate, he is showing that unlike Harry, he’s happy and comfortable in his role. While he’s been through many of the same things that Harry says have left him traumatised – such as losing his mother Princess Diana at a young age, growing up in the public eye and being part of a very traditional institution – William has taken a different approach to Harry, who has rejected his upbringing and externalised his pain by speaking out.
Royal commentator Sarah Vine says in contrast, William has found solace in his family, preferring to “focus his energies on the positive rather than turning his misery into a commodity to be sold to the highest bidder.
“While he has in the past indicated his sadness at losing his mother, he has not let it become the defining narrative of his life, thanks in large part to the support of the Duchess of Cambridge, with whom he clearly has a very happy and successful relationship.
“Whatever private agonies he may feel, he has kept them just that – private – choosing to maintain a dignified silence wherever possible.”
Royal writer Patrick O’Flynn agrees that much of the credit for William’s evolution from a young royal into a “mature statesman” should go to Kate.
“She has proved a calm, dignified, loving companion to William, as well as performing her engagements with great grace. Given the extended periods of turbulence that have engulfed The Firm in the modern era, that must come as a great comfort to the
‘William understands that this is his fate and he is okay with that’
Queen. She will know that not only has she steered the Crown through turbulent times, but that line of succession is in very good nick as well.”
William, who turns 39 on June 21, is coming into his prime, says Patrick, and his calm and thoughtful demeanor mean he will be a huge asset to the monarchy, not just once he becomes king, but in the years leading up to him taking the throne.
“It could be many years before William becomes king, but in the meantime, he is preparing for his destiny by stepping up and doing everything he can to help his grandmother and his father, Prince Charles. That includes showing people that the royal family can make a difference by supporting good causes and endorsing the worthwhile work that people do, as
William and Kate did during their visit to Scotland,” says a palace insider.
Since the death of his grandfather Prince Philip, William has become acutely aware of how the dynamics in the royal family have changed, and that the Queen’s advanced age is likely to catch up with her. Although Her Majesty is still carrying out engagements at the remarkable age of 95, it’s time for the next generations to shoulder more responsibility and William is only too happy to do that.
“He understands that this is his fate and he’s okay with that,” says the source. “A lot of courtiers are very relieved
that William was born first and not Harry.”
The way William and also Kate handle their roles shows that they are thriving and will be the ones likely to heal the royal family, which is undeniably fractured at the moment, adds the insider. “They’ve accepted the duties that come with their roles and they tackle everything they do with dignity and class. They know that they have to do damage control because the things Harry has been saying have left the family tarnished. Privately, they are still deeply wounded and reeling from what Harry has said. But the royal family has a long history of
putting personal trauma to one side and getting on with the job.”
For Kate and William – who are known as the Earl and Countess of Strathearn when they’re in Scotland – getting on with the job over the past week has included encouraging Brits to have the Covid-19 vaccine – which William did while showing off his muscled arm as he had the jab – through to preparing food for needy families in the kitchen at the Edinburgh royal residence, Holyroodhouse.
At a police initiative to try to reduce violent crime, Kate got the chance to try her hand at DJing and creating her own music – “It’s hurting my ears,”
protested her husband – while William enjoyed flirty banter with 96-year-old Betty Magee during a visit to a rest home.
A relaxed William also sat down for a beer with a group of emergency responders to talk about the toll the pandemic has taken on their mental health.
One observer commented on how William seemed to be “relaxed, sincere and genuinely enjoying himself – it doesn’t look like he is trapped in a cage”.
Meanwhile, social media posters described him as being in “full-on king mode. When the time comes, he will be a wonderful king.”
He further endeared himself by admitting in a speech that Scotland was a source of some of his happiest memories, as well as his saddest.
“I was in Balmoral when I was told that my mother had died. Still in shock, I found sanctuary in the service at Crathie Kirk that very morning and in the dark days of grief that followed I found comfort and solace in the Scottish outdoors. As a result, the connection I feel to Scotland will forever run deep.
“Alongside this painful memory is one of great joy because it was here in Scotland, 20 years ago this year, that I first met Catherine. Needless to say, the town where you meet your future wife holds a very special place in your heart.”
Along with being able to get on with people from all walks of life, William has an ability to see the wider picture, says Sarah Vine. Unlike Harry, who “appears to see the world through the filter of his own, fairly narrow experience”, William has “the wisdom and understanding needed to lead an institution like the royal family. He has perspective, authority and grace.
“This week in William we saw a future king, a man with a clear and precise moral compass who has learned to marshal his emotions and understands how to make an impact without making a spectacle of himself or his family.” #