{"id":718149,"date":"2026-06-06T02:37:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T02:37:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/718149\/"},"modified":"2026-06-06T02:37:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T02:37:26","slug":"prince-william-news-how-the-prince-of-wales-stays-grounded-as-he-inches-closer-to-becoming-king","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/718149\/","title":{"rendered":"Prince William News: How the Prince of Wales stays grounded as he inches closer to becoming king"},"content":{"rendered":"

In the not too-distant future, Prince William<\/a>\u2019s life will change dramatically when he takes on his birthright and accedes to the throne. <\/p>\n

As the eldest son of King Charles III<\/a>, his destiny as the future monarch was sealed decades before his birth, when his great-grandfather became King George VI after his brother King Edward VIII abdicated<\/a> the throne.<\/p>\n

\"Prince<\/p>\n

Prince William will be the most down-to-earth monarch in British history.\u00a0Getty<\/p>\n

Despite being born into royalty, and growing up in palaces and stately homes as the son of the future King and grandson of Britain\u2019s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II<\/a>, WIlliam has managed to stay grounded.<\/p>\n

In fact, as he inches closer to becoming King, some would say William<\/a>, now 43, is more in step with the people he will one day represent.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no accident that when that time comes, he will be the most down-to-earth monarch Britain and the Commonwealth has seen, with the seeds planted soon after he was born on June 21, 1982.<\/p>\n

As the eldest son of Prince Charles, then the Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales<\/a>, his life was never going to be normal, but his mother in particular strived to make his life as normal as possible.<\/p>\n

She famously broke royal protocol by taking William on their royal tour of Australia and New Zealand when he was just nine months old.<\/p>\n

It was also his mother who was keen for William to be exposed to \u2018real life\u2019, starting with attending nursery school when he was three.<\/p>\n

As he got older, his mother ensured he went to fast-food restaurants and the like.<\/p>\n

Diana\u2019s former press secretary Patrick Jephson <\/a>told ABC News in 2013, \u201cShe made sure that they experienced things like going to the cinema, queuing up to buy a McDonald\u2019s, going to amusement parks, those sorts of things that were experiences that they could share with their friends\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Diana,<\/p>\n

Princess Diana strived to make her two sons’ lives as normal as possible.\u00a0Getty Images<\/p>\n

William reflected on his mother\u2019s influence while chatting to Eugene Levy for an episode of his show The Reluctant Traveller<\/a> in late 2025.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe always understood that there was a real life outside of the palace walls,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n

\u201cShe gave us the right tools and has prepared us well for life.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Diana also exposed him to a life every different from his own by taking him to HIV\/AIDS clinics and homeless shelters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Prince<\/p>\n

William and Harry visited The Passage with their mother as children.\u00a0Twitter\/Kensington Royal<\/p>\n

Hands-on parent<\/p>\n

Today, William has adopted the same hands-on approach to parenting as his mother, who was often seen dropping William and his younger brother Harry at school and attending events such as sports carnivals.<\/p>\n

The prince told Levy he tried to structure his own workday of meetings and royal engagements around his children\u2019s \u201cschool timetables, as best as possible\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Prince and Princess of Wales are known to share the school run.\u00a0AP<\/p>\n

Just over a week ago, he spoke about the chaos of the morning school run<\/a> while a guest on the Heart Breakfast radio show.<\/p>\n

He has followed in his mother\u2019s footsteps in other ways; taking his children to fun events, such as a Taylor Swift concert<\/a>, as well as more sombre outings.<\/p>\n

Days before Christmas 2025, William and Prince George<\/a> volunteered to help serve a festive lunch at The Passage, a homeless charity in London. It was the same shelter his mother took him to when he was a child a year younger than George.<\/p>\n

In the 2024 documentary, Prince William: We Can End Homelessness, he recalled that visit.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mother took me to The Passage; she took Harry and I both there. I\u2019d never been to anything like that before, and I was a bit anxious as to what to expect,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI remember at the time kind of thinking, \u2018Well, if everyone\u2019s not got a home, they\u2019re all going to be really sad.\u2019 But it was incredible how happy an environment it was.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s when it dawned on me that there are other people out there who don\u2019t have the same life as you do.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Prince<\/p>\n

The future King spend a day selling copies of The Big Issue.\u00a0Instagram<\/p>\n

That outing sparked William\u2019s lifelong ambition to fight homelessness, through his support of various charities including Centrepoint, and has a Homewards initiative through the Royal Foundation of the Prince and Princess of Wales. <\/p>\n

He has been photographed on the street selling copies of The Big Issue and has taken part in the Winter Sleepout.<\/p>\n

He is also teaching his children about the cause. During the 2019 BBC special A Berry Royal Christmas, he told host Mary Berry, \u201cOn the school run already … whenever we see someone who is sleeping rough on the street I talk about it and I point it out and I explain.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd they are all very interested. They are like, \u2018Why can\u2019t they go home?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Prince<\/p>\n

He took his son Prince George to The Passage homeless charity in 2025.\u00a0YouTube\/The Prince and Princess of Wales<\/p>\n

A simpler home life<\/p>\n

Speaking of home, having grown up in palaces, and raising his own children for some of their lives in a 20-room apartment within Kensington Palace, William and Catherine swapped London for a simpler life in Windsor in late 2022.<\/p>\n

For the next three years, they lived in the modest four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage, in the grounds of Windsor Great Park.<\/p>\n

Just before Christmas, they relocated just up the road to the grander Forest Lodge<\/a>, which has eight bedrooms, and while it is described as a stately mansion, it is no palace.<\/p>\n

\"Forest<\/p>\n

William and Kate reportedly plan to remain in their new home Forest Lodge after he becomes king.\u00a0Getty<\/p>\n

Hello! royal editor Emily Nash said it was announced before the move that William\u00a0 and Catherine viewed Forest Lodge as their \u201cforever home\u201d \u2212 the inference being they would not be moving into a palace once they become King and Queen.<\/p>\n

While Buckingham Palace will always remain \u2018monarchy HQ,\u2019 for now, they want to keep as much normality for their family, and that means not living in a palace or a castle,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

It is all part of creating a normal family home atmosphere, as William told Levy last year.<\/p>\n

\"Prince<\/p>\n

William has an extremely close relationship with his three children.\u00a0Instagram\/@princeandprincessofwales<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s really important that that atmosphere is created at home \u2212 the warmth, the feeling of safety, love, that all has to be there,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was certainly part of my childhood.\u201d<\/p>\n

Football fan<\/p>\n

William\u2019s \u2018everyman\u2019 reputation is certainly on show when it comes to his hobbies.<\/p>\n

As a long-time fan of the Birmingham-based Aston Villa Football Club, which plays in the English Premier League, his theatrical appearances at games has proved a hit with the public.<\/p>\n

Just last month, he travelled to Istanbul in Turkey to watch his beloved team win the UEFA Europa League Final in May 2026 for the first time in 44 years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Prince William is a passionate fan of English Premier League team Aston Villa.\u00a0AP<\/p>\n

He was even caught on video singing along to the Neil Diamond song Sweet Caroline.<\/p>\n

But even his choice of football club speaks volumes about his approach to life. Instead of supporting Chelsea or Manchester United like his peers, he chose Aston Villa, based in the working-class city of Birmingham.<\/p>\n

During an interview with the BBC in 2020, he talked about his love of attending Aston Villa games like an FA Cup match that year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was fantastic. I sat with all the fans with my red beanie on, and I was sat with all the Brummie fans and had a great time.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the atmosphere, the camaraderie and I really felt that there was something I could connect with.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pints with his mates<\/p>\n

His trip to Istanbul put the spotlight on William and the close-knit group of friends who joined him, and another way he stayed grounded.<\/p>\n

According to the Daily Mail, who quoted a source, William catches up with his mates as often as possible at one of their homes for a barbecue with \u201cbeer and a lot of wine\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

William is known to enjoy a pint with his mates.\u00a0Chris Jackson\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Other times they meet in a West London pub for a few pints. Occasionally, William dons a disguise or wear a hat and glasses, and sometimes adopts an \u201ciffy\u201d Welsh accent to fly under the radar.<\/p>\n

The group also jets off on holiday once a year, often to a ski resort.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Instead of talking about royal matters, they chat about family matters, children, careers and sport, the source said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe is wary of getting too close to others [but] his true inner circle is very select. They have no axes to grind and know how to behave,\u201d the source sad.<\/p>\n

\u201cTheir occasionally boisterous behaviour has to be toned down so as not to draw too much attention to themselves, but these are sort of \u2018let your hair down\u2019 moments for William who can\u2019t act like this anywhere else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Catherine<\/p>\n

William and Catherine are known to make time for simple dates, even when away on royal business. \u00a0Getty<\/p>\n

Casual dates with Catherine<\/p>\n

Like his mother before him, William has embraced the normalcy of a night out, and he and Catherine are known to particularly enjoy low-key date nights at local pubs, whether in Windsor, near their other home in Norfolk or while on official tours.<\/p>\n

The couple has often been spotted enjoying casual child-free lunches at local pubs in Windsor, and were previously spotted dining alfresco with their three children,<\/p>\n

When at their Norfolk home Anmer Hall, they are reportedly regulars at The Crown Inn.<\/p>\n

Royal reporter Duncan Larcombe told OK! in 2021 the couple regularly heads out for date nights.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey keep a low profile and do normal things without anyone noticing, just like Princess Diana did,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\"Prince<\/p>\n

Prince William and Catherine celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary in 2025 on the Isle of Mull, in Scotland.\u00a0Instagram\/@princeandprincessofwales<\/p>\n

\u201cWilliam and Kate have been able to slip to the local pub for a night out, just the two of them.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cBeing a future king, you might expect William to whisk Kate away to Paris for the day or an extravagant lunch at a top restaurant, but they\u2019ve never been like that. They\u2019re more of a fish and chips on the seafront type of couple.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even when on official business, they will carve out low-key time together.<\/p>\n

When they celebrated their 14th wedding anniversary in 2025 during an overnight stay on the Isle of Mull in Scotland, they spent the night in a self-catered cottage.<\/p>\n

Informal dress code<\/p>\n

While his father has rarely if ever been spotted without a suit and tie, William often wears more low-key clothing.<\/p>\n

William dons jeans when out and about, and even dresses down for some royal engagements, and royal tours, such as his 2024 visit to South Africa.<\/p>\n

He has also passed this on to his children. <\/p>\n

While William was forced to don an impractical suit for one of his childhood visits to homeless shelter The Passage, Prince George worse a sweater and pants like this father for their joint visit.<\/p>\n

Less formal approach to royal life<\/p>\n

William has foreshadowed changes to the monarchy once he becomes king, and is already taking a different approach to royal engagements.<\/p>\n

Speaking during a 2024 visit to South Africa he said, \u201cI\u2019m doing it with maybe a smaller r in the royal, if you like, that\u2019s maybe a better way of saying it\u201d.<\/p>\n

He said his approach to his work was on \u201cimpact philanthropy, collaboration, convening and helping people\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Prince<\/p>\n

William, with Robert Irwin in South Africa in 2024, is keen to embrace different initiatives.\u00a0Getty<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do. It helps impact people\u2019s lives and I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

He has also signalled a future with less royal engagements for the sake of it \u2212 his grandmother the queen was always cutting ribbons \u2212 and more substance.<\/p>\n

After whizzing up to greet Eugene Levy on an electric scooter \u2212 his favoured mode of transport in and around Windsor Castle \u2212 he promised there would be changes when he eventually becomes king to\u00a0 ensure the monarchy is \u201cfit for purpose\u201d in the modern age.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it\u2019s safe to say that change is on my agenda,\u201d he said. \u201cChange for good. I embrace that, and I enjoy that change \u2013 I don\u2019t fear it. That\u2019s the bit that excites me, is the idea of being able to bring some change.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot overly radical change, but changes that I think that need to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n

Afterwards the BBC quoted a palace staffer who said, \u201cHe\u2019s not afraid to ask questions about how and why things are done.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Prince<\/p>\n

Prince William is building housing on the Duchy of Cornwall estate he manages.\u00a0Hannah McKay-WPA Pool\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the answer is \u2018Because that\u2019s how we\u2019ve always done it\u2019, then he just won\u2019t accept it.\u201d<\/p>\n

This can also be seen in the way he has managed the Duchy of Cornwall \u2212 the main source of income for the Prince of Wales and his family \u2212 since he took over from his father in 2022.<\/p>\n

Instead of just sitting back and taking in money as landlord of the multibillion-dollar estate, he has brought about real change and promises more through the promotion of environmental projects and social enterprise aimed at tackling the housing crisis.<\/p>\n

He recently announced plans to sell of about 20 per cent of the estate over the next decade to fund community projects, such as affordable housing, and has provided relief for charities that use the land.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the not too-distant future, Prince William\u2019s life will change dramatically when he takes on his birthright and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":718150,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[32],"tags":[64,63,447,134],"class_list":["post-718149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-celebrities","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-celebrities","tag-entertainment"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/718149","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=718149"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/718149\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/718150"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=718149"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=718149"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=718149"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}