Prince William to Phase out Princess Anne’s ‘Hardest-Working Royal’ Playbook When He Becomes King

Prince William "has made it very clear he doesn’t see that as the family’s role anymore," a commentator said of the future king's thoughts on Princess Anne's approach to royal life.

Prince William won’t continue his aunt Princess Anne’s reputation as the “hardest-working royal” when he’s king. The Prince of Wales, 42, reportedly wants to go in a different, more targeted direction with the British royal family’s “role.”

William likes ‘limited’ royal appearances to Princess Anne’s many

The Princess Royal, 74, is known for having a full schedule of meetings and being at the top of the Royal Court Circular, which charts royals’ engagements and appearances throughout the year. However, her longtime more-is-more method won’t fly when William’s king.

“Often described as the ‘hardest-working royal,’ her raison d’être is zooming around the country squeezing in 500-plus engagements a year,” Tom Sykes, The Daily Beast’s royal correspondent, wrote.

“William has made it very clear he doesn’t see that as the family’s role anymore,” he continued. Instead, the future king prefers “a tiny number of limited, high-impact engagements and events to the paternalistic, seen-to-be-believed, helicopter-riding royal attitude of old.”

King Charles’s cancer diagnosis has ‘forced’ the royal family to think about William’s reign

Per Sykes, looking ahead to William’s reign came along with the king’s February 2024 cancer diagnosis announcement. In a highly unusual move, Buckingham Palace revealed the news that King Charles had been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer and would be starting treatment.

His diagnosis “forced” both royals and aides to consider the future. Part of William’s reign, Sykes claimed, could include a “promotion” for his aunt and uncle, Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh. “Neither great friends nor enemies” of King Charles, the couple has “successfully won the trust and affection of William and Kate and they are likely to be rewarded with a promotion when William’s reign begins.”

Their two children, Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, could also have a bigger role to play when William’s king. “This elevation [for Sophie and Edward] may even see their kids, Viscount James and Lady Louise, made the first new working royals in a generation.”

William’s making changes in the royal family before he’s king

He may not be king yet but William’s already taken steps to make the royal family more modern. Not only is he said to communicate with staff via WhatsApp, but he goes about greeting members of the public in an entirely “different” way than older generations of royals.

“It’s very different than how it used to be,” Ian Lloyd, a former royal photographer told GB News about royals connecting with the public. Take, for instance, the invite to a Windsor Castle investiture William and Kate extended to Liz Hatton, a 16-year-old battling terminal cancer. Hatton not only took pictures of the event, but she and her family also met with the future king and queen.

“It’s indicative of a new approach of the monarchy,” Lloyd said. “In previous generations, it was them and us. And now, particularly in this case of cancer, it’s all together.”

“Kate has been a sufferer,” he continued. “But also she’s interested in photography as well so there’s that bond there. But it’s a kind of meeting of equal minds.”

“I think the Royal Family are thinking a bit out of the box now,” the former royal photographer added. “They are using a new approach and are more relaxed. You wouldn’t get the late Queen [Elizabeth II] hugging somebody who’s been ill. That just wouldn’t happen.”