Royalty in safe hands

Prince William has carried out his final shift as an air ambulance pilot. The Royal Family is moving on. Prince Philip will be retiring from public engagements. Prince George is about to start school in London. Prince William will be thinking about protecting the privacy of his children – giving them as normal a childhood as a Royal can possibly have. This question is particularly pertinent on the 20th anniversary of the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, an occasion that William and his brother, Prince Harry, have addressed with a candour and humanity that would make their mother proud.

But the Duke of Cambridge will also be thinking about his new royal duties, and about leaving his own mark on the history of the nation. His grandmother has distinguished herself as a tireless public servant. His father has been a thoughtful, diligent heir, dedicated to charity. The British monarchy has survived where so many others have failed thanks to the character of these individuals, but also their willingness to adapt. The tradition has remained relevant.

Prince William clearly understands this. His approach has been marked by a sense of rolling up his sleeves and getting stuck in; his love of the RAF and air ambulance service suggests a team player. And his recent work on mental health indicates that this Royal is prepared to break taboos, to talk straightforwardly and plainly to the British people. The task he faces now is deciding how to translate that spirit into practice. The outward appearance of the monarchy will probably be quite different a decade or so from now. But its essential task – of serving the nation and embodying a living constitution – is in safe hands.