Behind the scenes, things are not going as smoothly
09:09, 11 Jun 2025Updated 16:30, 11 Jun 2025
(Image: Jonathan Brady – Pool/Getty Images)
The Prince and Princess of Wales are probably the two most popular royals amongst the public.
Prince William and Kate Middleton may be the future of the monarchy, but it’s been suggested that Palace staff are getting increasingly frustrated with their wish to do things their own way.
The Scottish Express has previously shed light on the couple’s seeming reluctance towards fulfilling official duties.
It was understandable when William took a step back in 2024 as Kate was undergoing cancer treatment, but even prior to her health scare, there were murmurs about her being labelled a part-time Royal by palace staff.
It was also noted that William managed to find time for his personal interests, such as travelling to Germany for the Euros and South Africa for his Earthshot Prize.
Kate, now 43, is slowly resuming her Royal duties, but remains dedicated to being an involved mother to their children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
Meanwhile, William, aged 42, had to be instructed by his father, the King, to attend Pope Francis’ funeral, reports Cambridgeshire Live.
Prince William and Princess Kate are popular with the public, but staff have been left ‘frustrated’ with them(Image: Chris Jackson, Getty Images)
Camilla Tominey, associate editor of The Telegraph, suggests that William and Kate are “under growing pressure to up their workload”. There are worries amongst aides that the couple “may be spending too much time with their immediate family instead of supporting the ‘Firm’.”
Camilla suggests that a reconciliation between Princes William and Harry seems unlikely. Harry, 40, moved to California in 2020 and has ruffled feathers with his criticisms of the monarchy and revelations in his memoir, Spare.
Central to this is an allegation that William confronted him over Meghan Markle, 43. William has been seen as a significant barrier to the Duke of Sussex reuniting with King Charles, but Tominey suggests the heir’s stance has cooled, though this change in attitude is unlikely to prompt any sort of meeting.
Royal insiders believe there’s ‘no way back’ for William and Harry’s relationship
She says that reconciling with Harry is “low down their list of priorities”. While William is “no longer as angry as he was,” friends insist there is “no way back” for Harry and the “prevailing attitude is – let sleeping dogs lie”.
In other news, William called on world leaders to “think big” about ocean protection, delivering a speech in Monaco after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday.
Speaking at the Blue Economy and Finance Forum (BEFF) about ocean conservation at the Grimaldi Forum in the principality on Sunday, he told attendees: “Rising sea temperatures, plastic pollution and overfishing are putting pressure on these fragile ecosystems and on the people and communities who depend most upon them.
“What once seemed an abundant resource is diminishing before our eyes. We all stand to be impacted. And we are all responsible for change – both negative and positive. But there remains time to turn this tide.”