Paul Burrell, the former butler to Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, said in his Palace Confidential newsletter that he expects “huge changes” when Prince William succeeds to the throne, including the possibility that the future king would refuse to wear a coronation crown.
Burrell, writing in the newsletter and reported by the Daily Mail on Thursday, said William’s expected decisions would be inspired by lessons learned from his mother, Princess Diana, and that they were likely to provoke controversy. Burrell pointed to a gesture at King Charles III’s coronation as a clue to the direction William might take.
In the newsletter, Burrell framed a bold reorientation of the monarchy as a continuity of Diana’s influence on her eldest son, arguing that William had absorbed a lesson about public connection that could reshape ceremonial practice at the top of the royal household. He said one “vital clue” to William’s approach was visible during the coronation of King Charles in May 2023.
Burrell, who served in royal households for decades and later became a royal commentator, did not provide an official timetable for any changes nor speak for Clarence House or Buckingham Palace. Representatives for the Prince of Wales did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
William, 42, is heir apparent and has publicly signalled an interest in modernising aspects of the monarchy in recent years; he has also maintained a measured public profile since his father’s accession. His coronation plans as king have not been announced, and any alteration to established ceremonial practices, such as the wearing of a crown, would mark a significant departure from precedent.
Analysts and royal commentators say proposals to scale back regalia or alter ritual could spark debate within the United Kingdom and among Commonwealth realms where the British sovereign is head of state. Changes to the symbolic trappings of monarchy often prompt public discussion about continuity, national identity and the role of the royal family in modern Britain.
Burrell’s newsletter remarks follow a string of public- and media-facing commentary from former palace staff and royal biographers about how the institution might evolve under William. Such commentary has drawn attention because of Burrell’s long association with the household of Diana and the court of the late queen, but it remains opinion rather than an official policy outline.
Any decision about coronation regalia or ceremonial practice would rest with the sovereign and the institutions that advise on state occasions. Observers said a debate over the crown would require formal discussion with government, Palace officials and the wider Commonwealth in the event of any move to alter centuries-old traditions.
For now, Buckingham Palace and Clarence House have made no announcements indicating that the Prince of Wales plans to refuse the crown or make the other changes Burrell described. The former butler’s comments add to ongoing public discussion about how the monarchy may adapt in the years ahead and underscore the continuing influence of Princess Diana’s legacy on public perceptions of the royal family.