Prince William has made no secret of his intentions to shake up the monarchy when he becomes king. He recently said that "change for good" is on his "agenda", telling Eugene Levy on The Reluctant Traveler: "I embrace that. I don't fear it – that's the bit that excites me, the idea of being able to bring some change. Not overly radical, but changes that I think need to happen."
Weeks on from the insightful documentary, which saw the Prince of Wales give the TV star a tour of Windsor Castle while opening up about royal life, insiders have been theorising what changes he plans to make... and there are a few "ridiculous" traditions on the chopping block.
"William's vision is a monarchy fit for the modern age – less pomp, fewer outdated titles, and a stronger emphasis on purpose," a palace insider told RadarOnline of William's apparent plans. "He's pragmatic about it. He knows the monarchy can only endure if it evolves and stays meaningful to people's lives."
"William can't stand the more theatrical side of royal tradition," the source went on, adding that, in particular, William thinks the elaborate outfits the Royal Family is known for are "ridiculous" and "totally outdated".
"He wants to strip away the excess and make it feel less like costume drama," the insider continued. Scroll on for more on exactly which traditions William plans to scrap in the future...
Christmas gifts
Okay, so he's not planning to scrap Christmas gift-giving altogether (it would be a bit Grinchy if he did!), but Prince William does want to axe the Royal Family's equivalent of Secret Santa.
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Every year, the royals gather to celebrate Christmas at Sandringham and, as well as their infamous walk to church in the morning, the family plays what one source describes as an "antiquated" game. The game involves a selection of £5 "joke" gifts being handed out by the monarch in order of hierarchy, meaning senior royals receive their gift first, and more junior royals must wait to get theirs.
It's the "hierarchical" nature of the game that insiders say William is not fond of, and that's why he plans to cut it when he's in charge. "While William's mind is on much bigger changes than just the [gifting] trestle table, it's well known to be one of those antiquated traditions that he's never really taken to," a source told the Mail Online. "You can expect that to be one of the first things to go when he eventually hosts his first Sandringham Christmas."
Fancy 'fits
When he's king, William plans to retire the elaborate outfits we've come to see at ceremonies like the Order of the Garter. According to RadarOnline's source, the Prince of Wales thinks parading around in velvet robes is "medieval".
"William's focus is on celebrating achievement, not ceremony. He wants the spotlight on those receiving honours, not on the royals in elaborate outfits," the insider said.
Ceremonial roles
Ever thought about becoming the next Keeper of the Swans? Well, if William's plans are anything to go by, some of the monarchy's centuries-old ceremonial roles will be no more. From the Keeper of the Swans to the Yeoman of the Glass Pantry, there's a list of ceremonial roles that William plans to streamline, per the insider.
"Some of these ceremonial positions haven't had a real purpose in centuries," they said. "William values history, but he's practical. He wants the royal household to operate smoothly – not to preserve traditions just for show."
Grand greetings
Perhaps the most well-known royal protocol – bowing and curtseying – could also be scrapped under Prince William's rule. "William's never been comfortable with all the bowing and curtsying," the source suggested. "He'd rather someone greet him naturally than follow old protocols."
As for why that is, the insider said it's all about making the monarchy feel more "approachable and human".
House hopping
During her reign, Queen Elizabeth was known to divide her time across several royal estates – much like her sucessor, King Charles, does now. But when William is on the throne, there might be less of that.
While William and the Wales family have moved a fair few times in recent years (see: Adelaide Cottage, Kensington Palace, and Forest Lodge, to name a few), he's planning a future that feels a little bit more settled. "William isn’t drawn to the idea of rotating between royal estates," the source suggested. "Windsor will be the home base, with Sandringham and Balmoral reserved for short stays."
The insider added this is because William "wants stability for his family, not a life spent packing and unpacking."
Monograms no more
It's hard to imagine members of the monarchy using a mobile phone, but sources suggest that's exactly what the royal future looks like. Apparently, William isn't fussed about monograms or "gold-embossed stationery" and has already modernised the day-to-day running of his own royal life – choosing to communicate with his staff via WhatsApp.
"He's practical – he wants systems that function smoothly, not trappings designed to impress," the insider revealed.
While many of these changes may be welcomed – particularly by those who criticise how taxpayer money is spent, when it comes to the Royal Family – experts are concerned that William could be going too far. "The monarchy endures because it evolves, but part of its power lies in the pageantry," a source told RadarOnline of the future king's plans. "William's real test will be finding that balance – bringing it into the modern world without stripping away the wonder."
