Prince William is adopting a strategic, CEO-style approach to his royal duties, an expert claims, a method designed to ensure the monarchy's future viability. This perspective counters ongoing criticism that the heir to the British throne is "work-shy."
Dan Wakeford, founder of Celebrity Intelligence, told Fox News Digital that William, a father of three, is not deterred by critics. Instead, he is reportedly prioritizing his family and placing a greater emphasis on significant engagements that strengthen the institution, while de-emphasizing traditional practices. "William is extremely good at setting boundaries and not working during the holidays, protecting his kids’ privacy and his wife’s mental health," Wakeford stated. "There’s some criticism of that. Some critics snipe at that and think that he’s ‘work-shy’ or a little bit lazy. But I think William is working more like a CEO and being very strategic with his time."
Wakeford added that William's approach involves studying the monarchy to ensure its survival and maintaining clear divisions between his public and private life to prevent burnout. "And the poll numbers show that he’s extremely popular, and he’s doing a good job," he said.
The monarchy has seen a reduction in its active working members in recent years. Prince Andrew stepped back from public duties in 2019, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle also exited their roles as working royals in 2020. Meanwhile, King Charles continues his royal schedule while undergoing cancer treatment.
Christopher Andersen, author of "Kate!," asserted that William is the "very antithesis of 'work-shy.'" He noted that the Prince and Princess of Wales aim to make a significant impact through their advocacy for mental health and cancer research, among other causes. Andersen also pointed out the significant financial value of the royal family, which includes extensive real estate holdings, suggesting that treating "The Firm" as a business enterprise is an understatement.
William has previously faced scrutiny for undertaking fewer engagements than some other senior royals, leading to the "work-shy" label. A report last year in The Sunday Times, citing unnamed sources, suggested Princess Anne desired her nephew to take on more conventional engagements as he prepares for the throne. Journalist Emily Andrews also recounted an instance where William questioned her article titled "Work Shy Wills," indicating there were "a lot of things we hadn't seen behind the scenes."
British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard contrasted Princess Anne's consistent engagement levels with William's situation, noting that William has King Charles's permission to prioritize his young family. Chard described William's preparation for kingship not as a reduction in work, but as a shift to "different work." This, she explained, involves long-term projects, major partnerships, and measurable outcomes, rather than a high volume of smaller engagements. "Forget 400 meet-and-greets. We’re getting 10-year projects. We’re talking about big goals, big partnerships and measurable, real outcomes."
Chard further elaborated that King Charles acts as a custodian focused on preserving a streamlined monarchy, while Prince William is the strategist preparing it for the future. She indicated that while traditional charity work will continue, visits will become more targeted and efficient.
Wakeford emphasized that William's workload should not be solely measured by the number of public appearances. The Prince of Wales is officially tasked with supporting the King and oversees significant charitable projects. His leadership includes long-term initiatives like Homewards and the Earthshot Prize, and he also manages the Duchy of Cornwall. Reports indicate plans to sell a portion of the Duchy's estate to fund housing and environmental projects.
Hilary Fordwich, a royal expert, highlighted William's role in raising a future king and his focus on being a good father to Prince George as critical. She suggested that the visual image projected by William and his family, with Catherine, Princess of Wales, by his side, emphasizes stability and is a valuable asset in the social media era.
However, some experts have raised concerns that an overemphasis on business metrics and branding could erode the monarchy's unique mystique and tradition. Royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner questioned whether Britain desires a royal family managed like a business, and whether William would alter the long-standing principles of royalty. He also reminded that the monarchy is funded by British taxpayers.
Andersen suggested that William's modernization efforts will not signal an end to royal pageantry. He stated that William and Catherine are aware of the importance of maintaining appearances and traditions, and that the public will likely continue to see the familiar, "magical fairy tale" aspect of the royal family, regardless of how efficiently the monarchy is run behind the scenes.