As King Charles III, his father, ages, Prince William expects to have more power and influence within the British royal family.
According to people close to William, this expectation could cause conflict with the 75-year-old Charles, who is notorious for defying orders from others.
There isn’t much day-to-day interaction between William and Charles, which highlights the differences between William’s more casual approach and Charles’ reserved operation.
Prince William and King Charles III face conflict in management approaches
A former palace staffer who has worked for both claims that the differences also exist in their management approaches, with Charles’ office maintaining a more work-focused environment while William and Kate Middleton take a more compassionate stance, allowing time off in delicate circumstances.
Insiders indicate that although there may be an internal power struggle, it is unlikely to turn into a public spectacle. Most people agree that William will eventually “respect” his father’s wishes, which sets him apart from his rebellious and estranged younger brother, Harry, who has a reputation for disobeying orders.
The father and son have maintained a united front since Charles took the throne in the spring after Queen Elizabeth II’s death last year, despite having distinct approaches to their professional styles. But when William boasted last month that he was taking his charitable work “a step further” than the House of Windsor had done in the past, it appeared to be a subtle jab at his father.
Prince William wants to do more
William said in an interview that he wanted to be more than just a patron. In an attempt to end homelessness, he stated, “I want to actually build homes, provide mental support, and address all the employment and education needs.”
William is determined to “ensure his own image is no longer impacted by ‘poor decisions’ made by [his father],” according to Omid Scobie’s new book “Endgame,” especially in light of Harry’s abdication of royal duties and Prince Andrew’s contentious association with the infamous pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The book claims that William believes the Charles era to be a “transitional” one and that he will rule for a much longer time than his father. Many today describe the courts of Charles and William as “hives of competing agendas and different ideas on how to modernize.” Scobie pointed out that the King and the Prince of Wales are adopting different strategies behind closed doors.
The book points out that William and Charles have a different dynamic, despite Charles rarely invading his mother’s domain. William does not give his father the same leeway that Charles did with the late Queen Elizabeth, as he is keen to make his own way in the world. The book states that there is a sense of urgency and that “there’s no time for that.”
Meanwhile, Charles’s friends, as reported by the Daily Beast, claim that he is happy to let his son “chart his own course,” emphasizing that it is not only acceptable but encouraged, just as Charles did.
The palace source reportedly shared, “I think it is generally viewed as a constructive competition rather than a detrimental one because William acknowledges his father’s ‘position’ as the head of The Firm.”
The source emphasized the hierarchical nature of the monarchy, rooted in military principles, highlighting that in critical situations, orders from superiors must be followed. This understanding, the source suggests, is clear to William and Kate, distinguishing their approach from that of Harry and Meghan, who, as mentioned, were less inclined to conform to directives.
William’s close friend denied reports that the prince wants his ailing father to abdicate and hand over the throne to him by the time his father turns 80.
Surveys show that Charles’s popularity has significantly increased. According to a September YouGov poll, 60% of his subjects think well of the king, a considerable increase from his 35% approval rating prior to his ascent. However, the public views the Prince and Princess of Wales even more favorably; their poll numbers are in the mid-seventies.
