Description
William has said he takes duty very seriously, and any sense of a lack of keenness that surrounded him seems to have ebbed."It's clear that Prince William is now very much at the core of the monarchy, and those 'work-shy' comments are definitely in the past," Craig Prescott, a constitutional expert at Bangor University in Wales, said via email.
With Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, having stepped back from official duties, Prescott said it's really the role of William and Kate "to ensure that the monarchy continues to engage with younger generations."
"They are the only senior royals undertaking public duties that are under 55 or so," Prescott added, noting that Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, are 58 and 57, respectively.
Prescott said it was a surprise to see William, apparently with little security, selling The Big Issue, and initially doing it incognito.
"The only time I can recall him doing something similar was in 2009, when he slept rough for a night with Centrepoint, another homeless charity."
Other members of the Royal Family have informally helped charities, Prescott said, but it's relatively rare to see them doing anything on such an informal basis.
"Doing things such [as this] is likely to appeal to younger generations who are said to prefer 'authenticity' as opposed to merely staged photo opportunities."
Prescott said there is an increasing feeling that as the Queen continues to reign, whatever time Charles will have as King is likely to be a period of transition for the monarchy, and William will take the "helm of a 'slimmed-down' and more open monarchy" when his time comes.
"Perhaps with some of the [Commonwealth] realms becoming republics. William's role will be to support and facilitate that transition," Prescott said.
"This, combined with the fact that Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis also appeared on the [Buckingham Palace] balcony — along with Prince George — at the very end of the celebrations, is a suggestion that in the very long term, there will be a role for them as senior royals, in addition to Prince George," Prescott said.
Still, it's unlikely there will be frequent public appearances for the children for the next several years.
"Until they complete their education, public appearances will continue to be rare, but it's likely we'll continue to see photographs at special moments such as birthdays and at Christmas," Prescott said.
On the Queen and Paddington Bear
"I thought it was better than her James Bond sketch," Prescott said, describing it as "more elaborate, with the Queen showing genuine timing."
Some of that timing emerged as she and Paddington tapped along with their spoons on their china tea cups to We Will Rock You, the opening Jubilee concert number from rockers Queen with Adam Lambert.
But the moments Elizabeth shared with the fictional bear were more than an entertaining montage.
"It was also an indication that despite her mobility difficulties, she continues to be as sharp as ever and is still very much in charge," Prescott said.
"It shows the remarkable changes that she has seen during life and reign. Her first broadcast was made on the radio, and now she's engaging, perfectly naturally, with a CGI character."
"Some people are very quick to make the point that — as much as a bear can be — he is an immigrant from Peru. But more fundamentally, he is a character which is much loved by all, young and old."
And it was in that context, Prescott said, when Paddington said "thank you" to the Queen, that he was representing what the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth wanted to say to her.
"It was an opportunity to thank the Queen for an unprecedented 70 years of service. So in addition to being funny and heartwarming, it was also a deeply symbolic moment."
| Period | 12 Jun 2022 |
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| Held at | CBC, Canada |