Every single day there is a nasty piece in the DM. We all know it comes from Tobyn and his lynch mob. Charles can be seen out every day but he will never be well liked nor trusted. Catherine and Wm are loved. They are smart and understand that the public want a different Monarchy. Charles took many breaks as POW with his mistress. Not his children. For instance, every year a painting trip to Italy. Once he became King his past seems to have disappeared. Wm is right about Andrew and Harry. And he will forge his own path as King. Charles will never get what Diana and Wm have from the public. So the more nastiness he throws the more the public will approve of Wm. He and harry should learn the definition of insanity. BTW- Great Shauna-Kay Vintage Reed live today.
Looking at Charles parenting from the perspective of the 90s is like a panorama of how to best damage your child. I don't bring up Diana or that historical period because I think she should rest. But you are so correct to raise Charles trips to Italy with Camilla while the parenting of his sons was left to aides! It's a very fair point to raise in light of Charles critism of the parenting his child is doing.
And that is just one instance. Charles complained about his parents publicly. Yet made little effort to change when raising his sons. Wm does not criticize Charles' parenting-at least publicly- yet has re-written the book on raising heirs. By action. I do not doubt that Charles loves his sons but he needs to stop with Wm. Tom pointed out the obvious yesterday that Charles has lost.
Charles is probably oblivious to the possible damage he continues to inflict upon William with these passive - aggressive barbs he puts out in through his press officers and private secretaries. The media fails to appreciate that there continues to be a parent - child relationship between these two men. Charles is the parent here, but he is consumed by petty jealousy and his own vanity. He has become the tiny child in the relationship, leaving his son to figure out how to create a healthy marriage without the foundation of modeling one for him. It's an absurdity the mainstream media has completely overlooked in their rush to call William work shy.
When Princess Diana died so young, Prince Charles became a single parent. But you could say he had a big family and a bigger staff to help him. I am a bit puzzled why no one took the cudgels for Prince Harry? Can anyone explain why Prince Harry was a poor student? Why didn’t Prince Charles make it his priority to give Prince Harry the learning support he so obviously needed?
During the time Harry was a student Camilla was the focus of Charles attention. His office was focused on rehabilitating her public image. Charles let aides handle William and Harry.
Possibly Danielle, but I think that this is the reason that Catherine is so passionate about her early years project. If a child hasn't received the right love and care within the first five years, often it is too late.
You can't always blame everything on the parents. I've known children who were totally doted on by their parents who turned out well. You make your own decisions on how you turn out. Your childhood and past influence you, but they don't make your decisions. That's up to you and free will. Harry likes having other people do the work because he's a lazy. My opinion
I think Charles was just an absent father and didn't really notice or necessarily care that Harry was inherently lazy in his schooling. I don't think he's stupid the way people say. He just didn't want to do the work at school and nobody forced him to.
Perhaps this is why Harry titled his book “Spare”, as being the ‘spare’ in a monarchy means you are just there as a backup to the heir, who is always being treated as the future King, with schooling, tutors, etc. to prepare him for his destiny.
Harry never had that kind of attention. Perhaps it was assumed that he would never need a degree or any professional training. So he was ill-prepared to leave the UK and support himself.
I think Kate is doing the perfect thing by keeping her children as normal and mentally healthy as possible.
I think William is as childish as Charles in his own way. Charles was devoted to Camilla and not his sons, leaving their care up to others. So it rankles Wm to be nagged or compared unfavorably to his father, as being lazy, when in fact he is trying to be a good father.
Charles was the lazy one, as a father he was “workshy” but he is trying to make himself look better by pointing out his social and public engagements
The Queen (E2) took over much of the parenting of William after Diana died due to the William/Diana/Charles dynamic. That is why William follows his Grandmother's advice more.
Weekly tea is something. If I may get a bit personal, one of my grandsons, an only son, had doting parents when he was young, but there came a time when his parents became very distracted with problems and some tragedy. My husband and I live 1,500 miles away, but did our best to take up the slack for this lad. We'd talk on the phone often, try to advise gently, mostly just offering a steady adult influence. He started coming to stay us for a couple weeks in summer at least once a year since his early teens. His mother was especially troubled for a couple years. She's better now after counseling and therapy, but he still seems to feel closer to us, though we do our best to help his parental relationships. His grandfather and I have found providing low stress opportunities to just talk things over and listen [We talk on the phone frequently.] as the Queen seemingly did for her grandsons, can be invaluable.
I agree with you. But, my point was that she did not take over parenting. I wish I could see our grandchildren once a week though. They live in different states from us. I think the Queen had a strictly regimented schedule--and the weekly tea was the time she could give.
People have grown more skeptical of the media. I can't help but think they see the orchestrated campaign the Mail is waging and then realizing it is a Father attacking his own son. Also, William knows EXACTLY what Charles has been covering up about Harold, Andrew and Charles own crimes and misdemeanors. Frankly, I'm flabbergasted he has not put a halt to the Charles/Tobyn hate campaign by starting to leak it.
I've also started to read Dianarama. Thought I knew the story but I didn't know the half of it. William learned firsthand that every servant will sell books, gossip, scandal to the media so it's only SMART to live all by themselves in their home, far from the spies at the palace who might want to sell stories and listen in on their conversations. People still don't know the real story of who was behind the tampongate or squidgygate tapes. Diana was targeted and now William, NOT Harold, is the victim of s similar campaign he is trying to contain. I wish people could understand what he is up against.
I think William is choosing to set an example for his children by not leaking himself. He grew up with two parents who were both constantly leaking and badmouthing each other to the wider family and press. That is why Harold does it, he learned it from his parents. William is showing his kids a healthier way to communicate and live with family.
You could say that William and Harold both learned that from their parents but William chose a better route. Harry chose the route he wanted, definitely not a better route.
Even with the smear campaigns, William and Catherine still come out way ahead in the people's hearts and the polls. For me, that rather says what the people believe as opposed to what Charles wants to put out.
I get the impression William is trying to avoid playing the courtier games, trying to not feed into the gossip mongering between different courts, but ignoring them isn't stopping anything and not helping his relationship with his father. I honestly think Will ought to have a close private talk, "tea" with daddy dearest about his observations.
W&C were supposed to travel to Italy but then Catherine got ill instead of waiting for Catherine to be well enough Charles and Camilla went instead to make a big Fuzz about the anniversary of their second marriage instead of traveling there on holiday.,
Love this article and yesterday's YouTube video. The royal family has seen tragic discontent in every generation for a century. Edward 8th and George the 6th, tragic siblings with one shunning duty and the other succumbing to an early death after picking up the mantle for his older brother. Princess Margaret's sad, chaotic life. Charles and Andrew. And William and Harry. Tragic rifts that were fueled by inadequate parenting and by allowing the royal apparatus to infiltrate the daily family life of royal parents and their children.
William is putting his children and marriage first. Which is giving the monarchy it's best chance at future survival. The monarchy has absorbed blow after blow for several generations. As for Charles, he may be a diligent King performing all of the engagements the public expect. But few would call him an exemplary parent. To be a decent parent one must put the interests of the next generation at the forefront, they must be of sacred importance to those rearing the future generation. Charles had many priorities while rearing William and Harry. It is hard to make the case they were at the center of his world or his first priority.
No one doubts that the Wales children, all three of them, are the center of their parents world. They appear to actually have a chance at growing into healthy people. William was lucky to be welcomed into the Middleton kitchen. His children and the monarchy are better for the attention William is giving his family right now.
Is the royal family supposed to be like the moral authority for the country? Because the monarch is also head of the church? I'd think that making family and morals (William's quiet religion, treating other people with kindess, respect, how you want to be treated) a priority again would be reassuring to the UK. After all, they've certainly gotten family wrong thus far.
Charles is still alive and refuses to slow down -- why can't W&C concentrate on their family? Like you point out, this is the first time anyone has made the royal children's mental health a priority.
We have a ton of evidence on how traditional royal raising has worked (not well). I actually Googled young prince william, prince charles and sporting event. The images that come up are photos came up of William with Charlotte, Charles apparently never took him to football. Let's see how this new normal, this royals they're just like you, shakes out. The Windsor Mountbatten tree may end up with a few healthy, normal branches. It certainly can't hurt.
Excellent piece Tom. I’m Team William all the way. He’s making some great impacts with his Earthshot Prize and Homeless. I’m sure it’s frustrating for him to be scored as work shy when he puts hours of work behind a desk and on a phone to get the projects off the ground. I can’t see William expecting others to do the hard lifting. This is in contrast to Harry who swans in at the end to take all the credit. William plans to do monarchy differently and after little change during QE2s reign and now KC3s we need a break from protocol and stuffiness. I say bring it on. William’s instincts appear sound as well regarding the danger that Andrew and Harry pose for the monarchy. The corrupt decay in the House of Windsor needs to be cut out, although this will not be completely possible until Charles’ reign has come to an end.
Re the question of Archie's skin color: Without some context provided by a neutral party who was actually there, could this not have been just the typical musing of family members? You know, what color eyes will the baby have, whose nose will they get, what will their hair color be? Not saying there could not have been a racial undertone, but claiming this certainly fits into Meghan's "legend," parts of which we already know are untrue.
And in that infamous Oprah interview with her big gasp, MM was not actually there for the so called CONVERSATIONS. Isn’t that hearsay as she didn’t directly hear it.
I have lost all respect for Oprah. She let MM make statements and allegations without questioning her. If you recall during QE2’s funeral, she was patting herself on the back for her interview even after t was proven MM’s recollections really varied with the truth.
Love your comment Harri. Simple but powerful and to the point. That said. I maybe one in a few million but I do have some sympathy for Harry (the royal one not you) and putting the Royal part aside, I hate to see siblings and parents so alienated from each other as is the case here fuelled unfortunately and unforgivably by the press. Other than if a family member is an abuser of children, or other vulnerable people, then family members should work at sorting out their differences and make allowances where at all possible for each other’s different views. Sorry to go on Harri particularly given my objective is to praise sincerely your comment concerning your grandson.
I agree. But harry continues to abuse his family. We would never tell an abused woman to go back to her abuser and forgive, right? Catherine has been bullied online for years from a deranged squad. Harry could have spoken out about that. Most family drama is relatively private. But when one is profiting over so much pain that is being caused it crosses a line. Wm must protect his family. Thank you for your kind words. My law partner is Black and for 35 years both families have been entwined. I love her family and she loves mine. And our oldest married. Her daughters run the firm now for the most part. My grandson is loved and happy. That is all that matters. Thank you again.
So now Harry not speaking out about online speculation about Kate is akin to him abusing her? Are you ok? When did either Wales speak out about the abuse Meghan has gotten online? When did either say the Mail has gone too far by sending a reporter to her father’s hospital in the Philippines? You all are mental.
I don't see why families need to work together anymore than other people. Sharing genes doesn't make you automatically close and loving. You can be closer to your friends than ever with your siblings
It is racist to think it’s a joke whether the child will be much darker than the rest of his family. What’s so funny is how aggressively ginger both of Harry’s children are!😂 Especially when one of the people who was making that point gave birth to some very dark-haired children, including the eldest who gets his dyed lighter on the regular.
Chris Rock mentioned this in a comedy special. He said "what do you think black folks talk about when somebody's pregnant? How dark the baby is gonna be."
I've known several mixed race families who all discuss what the child's skin color will be. You can get some beautiful shades of tone in the children. As you said, it's just the same as wondering about eyes or hair color.
Charles has two personality traits that have served him badly throughout his life; his jealousy of attention paid to anyone other than him and his unwillingness to deal with conflict. It was evident when he married Diana. Instead of being pleased that his new wife was popular with his subjects he was sulking that they liked her better than him. Instead of thinking that perhaps she was more engaging with the public he blamed her for his ongoing toxic insecurity. Of course, rather than deal with this head on he went back to the always worshiping Camilla.
His son Harry made a bad choice in marrying the narcissist Meghan and the fall out has been toxic to the monarchy. Andrew is an outright criminal, as is his ex wife. Both should have been excised years ago. Harry and Meghan need to be plain old Mr. and Mrs., their titles stripped 3+ years ago. Unfortunately , Charles will not engage in this conflict. His mother left him to deal with Andrew and Harry, he will leave both to William.
Charles can be a father to Harry and a brother to Andrew but both need to be removed from the monarchy yesterday. Andrew seems to be neutralized for the moment but while Harry and his wife harbor their delusions of grandeur and take themselves on royal visits all over the world and spew misinformation/disinformation in the process they must be stopped. William will do what Charles can't, but the ongoing damage can't be over estimated.
I totally agree with what you say but, as I always do, I must say that Harry is just as narcissistic as Megan. The two are a good match for each other. They also deserve each other. Thank God no other poor soul is married to either of them.
I think it must be difficult for Charles to come to a satisfactory conclusion either with or about his son, Harry - and Markle. He has to know how toxic their returning to UK would be (as must any courtiers who advise him), not just for his heir, who is right to be absolute about his denial of a reconciliation, but for how it would injure his own reputation nationally. I would argue that William has a better view on what allowing Harry back in would mean for him - how compromised his position as heir and eventually King would become. To accept a slandering traitor back into his family, and into the country he will be the symbolic head of is not an option. Just as his rejection on Andrew shows exactly that he understands that being lenient will undermine his eventual reign.
However, I do understand how a father must feel about a son who is far away and how he might need his father’s counsel, as well as a desire to see his grandchildren, particularly at the far end of his life. But surely Charles (and again, his courtiers) see how impossible it is to accept a full return of Harry. Perhaps visits from time to time, in UK, or in Romania where KC has his hideaway place, would be acceptable…?
I wholeheartedly applaud William & Catherine and how they live their lives and raise their children. Time will come when William will ascend to the throne and it will be his reign. He is also in his Prince Hal period - he may become the very serious monarch his commitments seem to indicate.
He knows how unpopular his decision to bring back H would make him, he who has always CRAVED popularity. Yet he persists. What could possibly explain such uncharacteristic behavior? Perhaps....blackmail? See also, Andrew and daughters. Tom, you have led the pack in sniffing out what is truly going on, but either you have not made the logical next step or have to hold back for prudential reasons, for which I don't blame you. I don't ask you to name and shame but please don't parrot the official he wants to be known as Charles the Compassionate. Thats clearly not on. He's been met with disapproval and denunciation everywhere for harboring toxic and criminal behavior.
I don't think Charles is the person that Harry needs to take advice from. A jealous vindictive person is not the one you want to be your mentor. I think Harry has turned out a lot like Charles in the first day without any needed advice on how to do that.
I like both Charles AND William and think the issues between them are a bit overblown. We have sons around William's age and we are a few years shy of Charles's age. We often privately shake our heads at things our sons do. There is nothing wrong with what they do--but sometimes it is a bit different from our inclinations. We respect their views and actions, even if we do not parrot them. I can image that Charles may feel the same. Some frustration, but on a deeper level, understanding that William is of a different generation.
For the record, it is my thinking that the single most important thing William and Catherine can do while Charles is still alive, is to raise untraumatized healthy happy children with good values and instincts.
And yes, as you point out in your piece here, the monarchy is changing and will continue to change when William takes the helm. The "performative" ribbon cutting of the past will evolve into other ways of proving the worth of the institution.
So--as well written as you post is today--I still see it as a bit of a tempest in a teapot. I enjoyed the read.
William needs to take his children to church—every week, getting involved in the children’s programs. God is missing from this family. Also, a well educated person knows the Bible and those kids need that.
Stanley, interesting you make this comment. I don't think William and Harry were taken to church on any kind of regular basis. Why do I think that? I saw a video of William, as a young boy, signing the registry book at Eton. Evidently, there was a place to write in which religious denomination you belong to. William asked his mother what he should write, and she told him Church of England. I was surprised by that--surprised that she had to tell him. I know our sons at the same age certainly knew their church's denomination.
It would be ideal as the monarch is the head of The Church of England. On the other hand, what percentage of citizens in UK attend church on a regular basis in 2026? I've read that it is a fairly low percentage.
It's not overblown because Charles and Tobyn are waging an obvious public media campaign against William and Catherine. And trying to bring H back. That's a great deal more serious than merely disapproving of Williams approach to being royal.
But, that is inside baseball for most of us and I would wager for most people in the UK. I guess I'm not in the camp that thinks that Charles is so jealous that he seeks to undercut William and Catherine at every turn. Of course I could be wrong. But, it does not look or feel that way to me.
Right but if you're in the UK and familiar with the Mail its noticeable. Like one day 3 lady columnist simultanously write columns slamming William. then 2 days later a regular news writer suddenly writes their new home housed a racist in the 17th century!! Coincidence? They might as well take out an ad. I know a media campaign when i see one. And is you don't see it, your social media does.
Oh, he only espouses it when it comes to his vision vs. William's. He doesn't really believe it. He believes he is divinely annointed and therefore has a right to cover up -- oh sorry!--- I mean absolve any embarrassing family members who agree to shut their mouths in return.
Great article, Tom, and lots of wonderful comments below. I really can't add to them, except to voice that I believe the reason PW is so popular is BECAUSE he has chosen a different path than that of his father. Years ago, it was simply accepted that things were the way they were because "that's how it's always done" (insert issue here - child raising, public attendance, overseas visits, etc). But in this day and age with the internet and social media, everything is looked at and questioned more closely. And PW and PC know that. Good for them! Personally I think they are brilliant!
Plus, popular can come and go. Evidently a lot of people are either too young or have forgotten her Elizabeth was not that popular for a long time and then bombed even lower after Diana died. It's only when Elizabeth hit what people think of as the elderly people started coming around to her again.
I surmise from reading Tom Bower’s book on Charles that he is a narcissist and that informs his desperation to be loved by the public and also the way he has reared his children. The evidence in Bower’s book showed a man who looked at everything through the lens of how it affected him personally.
Mortality is the ultimate power player against whom nobody ever wins. This is where Charles is now. As he nears the end of his life, the King's struggles are to secure what agency he can while he can. He's well aware that the deck is stacked against him. His ambivalence about Harry is understandable; his impotence against Andrew unforgivable.
I don't think you could call it Boomer, a term I now hate as it has become pejorative, against millennial. What it is an older generation and a younger generation not seeing eye to eye. This is been going on forever. The young want to be different things their parents. My generation did it. Probably every generation back to God knows when wants to be different than their parents. And appearance forget what it's like to be young and so disapprove of the young doing the very thing that they did when they were young. As an aside, did you know that so-called boomers are divided into two parts. You have the true boomers born right after the war and then what's called generation Jones which is from 57 to 63 or 64. Both are slightly different. Howdy Duty as opposed to Captain kangaroo.
I'm the first of Gen X or the last of Gen Jones (1965 baby). I don't agree that Millenial, Gen Z, or Boomer is a pejorative. I of course recognize that those who want to argue use it as such.
We're (Gen X) a kinda bridge between Boomers and Millenials. In my view, both gens seem pretty set in their beliefs, which are far apart.
Gen X parents of Millenials raised our kids in a much less formal way. I suspect that's partly responsible for the differences in beliefs about what's important re rituals, etc.
And like most Gen Xers, I just shake my head at the vitriol between the other generations.
Hopefully, the King and his son can find their way to peace. But it doesn't seem hopeful at the moment.
Every single day there is a nasty piece in the DM. We all know it comes from Tobyn and his lynch mob. Charles can be seen out every day but he will never be well liked nor trusted. Catherine and Wm are loved. They are smart and understand that the public want a different Monarchy. Charles took many breaks as POW with his mistress. Not his children. For instance, every year a painting trip to Italy. Once he became King his past seems to have disappeared. Wm is right about Andrew and Harry. And he will forge his own path as King. Charles will never get what Diana and Wm have from the public. So the more nastiness he throws the more the public will approve of Wm. He and harry should learn the definition of insanity. BTW- Great Shauna-Kay Vintage Reed live today.
Looking at Charles parenting from the perspective of the 90s is like a panorama of how to best damage your child. I don't bring up Diana or that historical period because I think she should rest. But you are so correct to raise Charles trips to Italy with Camilla while the parenting of his sons was left to aides! It's a very fair point to raise in light of Charles critism of the parenting his child is doing.
And that is just one instance. Charles complained about his parents publicly. Yet made little effort to change when raising his sons. Wm does not criticize Charles' parenting-at least publicly- yet has re-written the book on raising heirs. By action. I do not doubt that Charles loves his sons but he needs to stop with Wm. Tom pointed out the obvious yesterday that Charles has lost.
Charles is probably oblivious to the possible damage he continues to inflict upon William with these passive - aggressive barbs he puts out in through his press officers and private secretaries. The media fails to appreciate that there continues to be a parent - child relationship between these two men. Charles is the parent here, but he is consumed by petty jealousy and his own vanity. He has become the tiny child in the relationship, leaving his son to figure out how to create a healthy marriage without the foundation of modeling one for him. It's an absurdity the mainstream media has completely overlooked in their rush to call William work shy.
When Princess Diana died so young, Prince Charles became a single parent. But you could say he had a big family and a bigger staff to help him. I am a bit puzzled why no one took the cudgels for Prince Harry? Can anyone explain why Prince Harry was a poor student? Why didn’t Prince Charles make it his priority to give Prince Harry the learning support he so obviously needed?
During the time Harry was a student Camilla was the focus of Charles attention. His office was focused on rehabilitating her public image. Charles let aides handle William and Harry.
And now he's trying to play the loving father.
The answer is Diana's indulgence of Harry.
Maybe but Prince Harry was turning 13 in 1997. So there was enough time for intervention. I guess hindsight is always 20 20.
Possibly Danielle, but I think that this is the reason that Catherine is so passionate about her early years project. If a child hasn't received the right love and care within the first five years, often it is too late.
You can't always blame everything on the parents. I've known children who were totally doted on by their parents who turned out well. You make your own decisions on how you turn out. Your childhood and past influence you, but they don't make your decisions. That's up to you and free will. Harry likes having other people do the work because he's a lazy. My opinion
I think Charles was just an absent father and didn't really notice or necessarily care that Harry was inherently lazy in his schooling. I don't think he's stupid the way people say. He just didn't want to do the work at school and nobody forced him to.
Perhaps this is why Harry titled his book “Spare”, as being the ‘spare’ in a monarchy means you are just there as a backup to the heir, who is always being treated as the future King, with schooling, tutors, etc. to prepare him for his destiny.
Harry never had that kind of attention. Perhaps it was assumed that he would never need a degree or any professional training. So he was ill-prepared to leave the UK and support himself.
I think Kate is doing the perfect thing by keeping her children as normal and mentally healthy as possible.
I think William is as childish as Charles in his own way. Charles was devoted to Camilla and not his sons, leaving their care up to others. So it rankles Wm to be nagged or compared unfavorably to his father, as being lazy, when in fact he is trying to be a good father.
Charles was the lazy one, as a father he was “workshy” but he is trying to make himself look better by pointing out his social and public engagements
Weren't the kids left to Tiggy Legge-Bourke to raise?
She was one of the individuals who took over for Charles after Diana's death. But not the only one.
She also helped with the children after the divorce when Diana was still alive. Diana was very jealous of Tiggy Legge-Bourke.
And yet, Charles did a better job of parenting than his mother did--and his father.
The Queen (E2) took over much of the parenting of William after Diana died due to the William/Diana/Charles dynamic. That is why William follows his Grandmother's advice more.
I don't think the Queen took over parenting William. From what I have read, she had him for tea once a week while he was a student at Eton.
Weekly tea is something. If I may get a bit personal, one of my grandsons, an only son, had doting parents when he was young, but there came a time when his parents became very distracted with problems and some tragedy. My husband and I live 1,500 miles away, but did our best to take up the slack for this lad. We'd talk on the phone often, try to advise gently, mostly just offering a steady adult influence. He started coming to stay us for a couple weeks in summer at least once a year since his early teens. His mother was especially troubled for a couple years. She's better now after counseling and therapy, but he still seems to feel closer to us, though we do our best to help his parental relationships. His grandfather and I have found providing low stress opportunities to just talk things over and listen [We talk on the phone frequently.] as the Queen seemingly did for her grandsons, can be invaluable.
I agree with you. But, my point was that she did not take over parenting. I wish I could see our grandchildren once a week though. They live in different states from us. I think the Queen had a strictly regimented schedule--and the weekly tea was the time she could give.
Well they set the bar low so it would be hard for him to be a worse parent.
They did set a very low bar. This is reason to applaud William's efforts as a father.
more than Charles did!
I don't believe that is true. I think Charles did his best after Diana's death.
People have grown more skeptical of the media. I can't help but think they see the orchestrated campaign the Mail is waging and then realizing it is a Father attacking his own son. Also, William knows EXACTLY what Charles has been covering up about Harold, Andrew and Charles own crimes and misdemeanors. Frankly, I'm flabbergasted he has not put a halt to the Charles/Tobyn hate campaign by starting to leak it.
I've also started to read Dianarama. Thought I knew the story but I didn't know the half of it. William learned firsthand that every servant will sell books, gossip, scandal to the media so it's only SMART to live all by themselves in their home, far from the spies at the palace who might want to sell stories and listen in on their conversations. People still don't know the real story of who was behind the tampongate or squidgygate tapes. Diana was targeted and now William, NOT Harold, is the victim of s similar campaign he is trying to contain. I wish people could understand what he is up against.
I think William is choosing to set an example for his children by not leaking himself. He grew up with two parents who were both constantly leaking and badmouthing each other to the wider family and press. That is why Harold does it, he learned it from his parents. William is showing his kids a healthier way to communicate and live with family.
You could say that William and Harold both learned that from their parents but William chose a better route. Harry chose the route he wanted, definitely not a better route.
Even with the smear campaigns, William and Catherine still come out way ahead in the people's hearts and the polls. For me, that rather says what the people believe as opposed to what Charles wants to put out.
I wonder when the birth of Harry & Meghan’s children
Will come out?
What do you mean when the birth of their children will come out? We know when they were born. I'm sorry, I just don't understand your comment
I get the impression William is trying to avoid playing the courtier games, trying to not feed into the gossip mongering between different courts, but ignoring them isn't stopping anything and not helping his relationship with his father. I honestly think Will ought to have a close private talk, "tea" with daddy dearest about his observations.
W&C were supposed to travel to Italy but then Catherine got ill instead of waiting for Catherine to be well enough Charles and Camilla went instead to make a big Fuzz about the anniversary of their second marriage instead of traveling there on holiday.,
When your whole lifestyle revolves around your preening it with wearing a crown, you're not going to put that aside for someone's serious illness.
I agree that Tobyn is likely the mastermind.
Love this article and yesterday's YouTube video. The royal family has seen tragic discontent in every generation for a century. Edward 8th and George the 6th, tragic siblings with one shunning duty and the other succumbing to an early death after picking up the mantle for his older brother. Princess Margaret's sad, chaotic life. Charles and Andrew. And William and Harry. Tragic rifts that were fueled by inadequate parenting and by allowing the royal apparatus to infiltrate the daily family life of royal parents and their children.
William is putting his children and marriage first. Which is giving the monarchy it's best chance at future survival. The monarchy has absorbed blow after blow for several generations. As for Charles, he may be a diligent King performing all of the engagements the public expect. But few would call him an exemplary parent. To be a decent parent one must put the interests of the next generation at the forefront, they must be of sacred importance to those rearing the future generation. Charles had many priorities while rearing William and Harry. It is hard to make the case they were at the center of his world or his first priority.
No one doubts that the Wales children, all three of them, are the center of their parents world. They appear to actually have a chance at growing into healthy people. William was lucky to be welcomed into the Middleton kitchen. His children and the monarchy are better for the attention William is giving his family right now.
This is an excellent take.
What's the greatest gift William can give to his country?
A healthy, functional next king.
Wm does say that he wants to leave George a strong Monarchy. Let's hope he does.
Is the royal family supposed to be like the moral authority for the country? Because the monarch is also head of the church? I'd think that making family and morals (William's quiet religion, treating other people with kindess, respect, how you want to be treated) a priority again would be reassuring to the UK. After all, they've certainly gotten family wrong thus far.
Charles is still alive and refuses to slow down -- why can't W&C concentrate on their family? Like you point out, this is the first time anyone has made the royal children's mental health a priority.
We have a ton of evidence on how traditional royal raising has worked (not well). I actually Googled young prince william, prince charles and sporting event. The images that come up are photos came up of William with Charlotte, Charles apparently never took him to football. Let's see how this new normal, this royals they're just like you, shakes out. The Windsor Mountbatten tree may end up with a few healthy, normal branches. It certainly can't hurt.
Excellent piece Tom. I’m Team William all the way. He’s making some great impacts with his Earthshot Prize and Homeless. I’m sure it’s frustrating for him to be scored as work shy when he puts hours of work behind a desk and on a phone to get the projects off the ground. I can’t see William expecting others to do the hard lifting. This is in contrast to Harry who swans in at the end to take all the credit. William plans to do monarchy differently and after little change during QE2s reign and now KC3s we need a break from protocol and stuffiness. I say bring it on. William’s instincts appear sound as well regarding the danger that Andrew and Harry pose for the monarchy. The corrupt decay in the House of Windsor needs to be cut out, although this will not be completely possible until Charles’ reign has come to an end.
Team William. The Harkles are a poison and can never be trusted, especially anywhere near the Wales children
MM Is planning a tell-all memoir. It’s not a question of IF but WHEN. Does the public need to spell it out?
All the King’s men should keep this in mind when they are trying to bring back Prince Harry via Project Thaw.
I am with you Muriel. Team William!
I'm going to skip the brothers and say team Catherine. I think her warmth is going to keep things going for the monarchy
She’s really a gem! I have much admiration for her too!
Re the question of Archie's skin color: Without some context provided by a neutral party who was actually there, could this not have been just the typical musing of family members? You know, what color eyes will the baby have, whose nose will they get, what will their hair color be? Not saying there could not have been a racial undertone, but claiming this certainly fits into Meghan's "legend," parts of which we already know are untrue.
If anything was said at all. The only family member who has made documented racial slurs and overtones has been Harry.
Wasn’t Prince Harry speculating on the hair of Archie. So it’s alright to wonder if your child will be a red head but not the child’s skin color?
My oldest Grandson is bi-racial. And both sides of the family speculated on everything. It is natural and he couldn't be more perfect at three. Lol
And in that infamous Oprah interview with her big gasp, MM was not actually there for the so called CONVERSATIONS. Isn’t that hearsay as she didn’t directly hear it.
I don't believe a word she said. It's all fabricated.
I have lost all respect for Oprah. She let MM make statements and allegations without questioning her. If you recall during QE2’s funeral, she was patting herself on the back for her interview even after t was proven MM’s recollections really varied with the truth.
Not unusal in all familes!!!!
Love your comment Harri. Simple but powerful and to the point. That said. I maybe one in a few million but I do have some sympathy for Harry (the royal one not you) and putting the Royal part aside, I hate to see siblings and parents so alienated from each other as is the case here fuelled unfortunately and unforgivably by the press. Other than if a family member is an abuser of children, or other vulnerable people, then family members should work at sorting out their differences and make allowances where at all possible for each other’s different views. Sorry to go on Harri particularly given my objective is to praise sincerely your comment concerning your grandson.
I agree. But harry continues to abuse his family. We would never tell an abused woman to go back to her abuser and forgive, right? Catherine has been bullied online for years from a deranged squad. Harry could have spoken out about that. Most family drama is relatively private. But when one is profiting over so much pain that is being caused it crosses a line. Wm must protect his family. Thank you for your kind words. My law partner is Black and for 35 years both families have been entwined. I love her family and she loves mine. And our oldest married. Her daughters run the firm now for the most part. My grandson is loved and happy. That is all that matters. Thank you again.
So now Harry not speaking out about online speculation about Kate is akin to him abusing her? Are you ok? When did either Wales speak out about the abuse Meghan has gotten online? When did either say the Mail has gone too far by sending a reporter to her father’s hospital in the Philippines? You all are mental.
I don't see why families need to work together anymore than other people. Sharing genes doesn't make you automatically close and loving. You can be closer to your friends than ever with your siblings
I think that mixed children often have a much prettier skin tone than either of their parents.
Exactly. My son is biracial and that's part of the fun. It's not racist to wonder will you look more like mom or dad.
It is racist to think it’s a joke whether the child will be much darker than the rest of his family. What’s so funny is how aggressively ginger both of Harry’s children are!😂 Especially when one of the people who was making that point gave birth to some very dark-haired children, including the eldest who gets his dyed lighter on the regular.
Indeed. Recollections may vary.
Chris Rock mentioned this in a comedy special. He said "what do you think black folks talk about when somebody's pregnant? How dark the baby is gonna be."
As far as Catherine is concerned, she made this whole story up. Those two barely spoke.
I've known several mixed race families who all discuss what the child's skin color will be. You can get some beautiful shades of tone in the children. As you said, it's just the same as wondering about eyes or hair color.
Charles has two personality traits that have served him badly throughout his life; his jealousy of attention paid to anyone other than him and his unwillingness to deal with conflict. It was evident when he married Diana. Instead of being pleased that his new wife was popular with his subjects he was sulking that they liked her better than him. Instead of thinking that perhaps she was more engaging with the public he blamed her for his ongoing toxic insecurity. Of course, rather than deal with this head on he went back to the always worshiping Camilla.
His son Harry made a bad choice in marrying the narcissist Meghan and the fall out has been toxic to the monarchy. Andrew is an outright criminal, as is his ex wife. Both should have been excised years ago. Harry and Meghan need to be plain old Mr. and Mrs., their titles stripped 3+ years ago. Unfortunately , Charles will not engage in this conflict. His mother left him to deal with Andrew and Harry, he will leave both to William.
Charles can be a father to Harry and a brother to Andrew but both need to be removed from the monarchy yesterday. Andrew seems to be neutralized for the moment but while Harry and his wife harbor their delusions of grandeur and take themselves on royal visits all over the world and spew misinformation/disinformation in the process they must be stopped. William will do what Charles can't, but the ongoing damage can't be over estimated.
Upvoting one million times.
I totally agree with what you say but, as I always do, I must say that Harry is just as narcissistic as Megan. The two are a good match for each other. They also deserve each other. Thank God no other poor soul is married to either of them.
I think it must be difficult for Charles to come to a satisfactory conclusion either with or about his son, Harry - and Markle. He has to know how toxic their returning to UK would be (as must any courtiers who advise him), not just for his heir, who is right to be absolute about his denial of a reconciliation, but for how it would injure his own reputation nationally. I would argue that William has a better view on what allowing Harry back in would mean for him - how compromised his position as heir and eventually King would become. To accept a slandering traitor back into his family, and into the country he will be the symbolic head of is not an option. Just as his rejection on Andrew shows exactly that he understands that being lenient will undermine his eventual reign.
However, I do understand how a father must feel about a son who is far away and how he might need his father’s counsel, as well as a desire to see his grandchildren, particularly at the far end of his life. But surely Charles (and again, his courtiers) see how impossible it is to accept a full return of Harry. Perhaps visits from time to time, in UK, or in Romania where KC has his hideaway place, would be acceptable…?
I wholeheartedly applaud William & Catherine and how they live their lives and raise their children. Time will come when William will ascend to the throne and it will be his reign. He is also in his Prince Hal period - he may become the very serious monarch his commitments seem to indicate.
He knows how unpopular his decision to bring back H would make him, he who has always CRAVED popularity. Yet he persists. What could possibly explain such uncharacteristic behavior? Perhaps....blackmail? See also, Andrew and daughters. Tom, you have led the pack in sniffing out what is truly going on, but either you have not made the logical next step or have to hold back for prudential reasons, for which I don't blame you. I don't ask you to name and shame but please don't parrot the official he wants to be known as Charles the Compassionate. Thats clearly not on. He's been met with disapproval and denunciation everywhere for harboring toxic and criminal behavior.
I don't think Charles is the person that Harry needs to take advice from. A jealous vindictive person is not the one you want to be your mentor. I think Harry has turned out a lot like Charles in the first day without any needed advice on how to do that.
I like both Charles AND William and think the issues between them are a bit overblown. We have sons around William's age and we are a few years shy of Charles's age. We often privately shake our heads at things our sons do. There is nothing wrong with what they do--but sometimes it is a bit different from our inclinations. We respect their views and actions, even if we do not parrot them. I can image that Charles may feel the same. Some frustration, but on a deeper level, understanding that William is of a different generation.
For the record, it is my thinking that the single most important thing William and Catherine can do while Charles is still alive, is to raise untraumatized healthy happy children with good values and instincts.
And yes, as you point out in your piece here, the monarchy is changing and will continue to change when William takes the helm. The "performative" ribbon cutting of the past will evolve into other ways of proving the worth of the institution.
So--as well written as you post is today--I still see it as a bit of a tempest in a teapot. I enjoyed the read.
William needs to take his children to church—every week, getting involved in the children’s programs. God is missing from this family. Also, a well educated person knows the Bible and those kids need that.
Stanley, interesting you make this comment. I don't think William and Harry were taken to church on any kind of regular basis. Why do I think that? I saw a video of William, as a young boy, signing the registry book at Eton. Evidently, there was a place to write in which religious denomination you belong to. William asked his mother what he should write, and she told him Church of England. I was surprised by that--surprised that she had to tell him. I know our sons at the same age certainly knew their church's denomination.
Gotta say they'd be bulletproof if they did that. But they should do it for the right reasons.
Would be nice if they ALL attended on a regular basis.
It would be ideal as the monarch is the head of The Church of England. On the other hand, what percentage of citizens in UK attend church on a regular basis in 2026? I've read that it is a fairly low percentage.
Religion should be something you want to do, not something you do just for the look of it. We have way too much of that.
so overblown.
That's what I think!
It's not overblown because Charles and Tobyn are waging an obvious public media campaign against William and Catherine. And trying to bring H back. That's a great deal more serious than merely disapproving of Williams approach to being royal.
But, that is inside baseball for most of us and I would wager for most people in the UK. I guess I'm not in the camp that thinks that Charles is so jealous that he seeks to undercut William and Catherine at every turn. Of course I could be wrong. But, it does not look or feel that way to me.
Right but if you're in the UK and familiar with the Mail its noticeable. Like one day 3 lady columnist simultanously write columns slamming William. then 2 days later a regular news writer suddenly writes their new home housed a racist in the 17th century!! Coincidence? They might as well take out an ad. I know a media campaign when i see one. And is you don't see it, your social media does.
And your proof that this is orchestrated by William's father?
Another great read Tom!
Tom also did a great show yesterday.
Charles is a hypocrite. If - as he espouses- the monarchy comes before family, then he needs to shut the door on super toxic Harry and Meghan.
Oh, he only espouses it when it comes to his vision vs. William's. He doesn't really believe it. He believes he is divinely annointed and therefore has a right to cover up -- oh sorry!--- I mean absolve any embarrassing family members who agree to shut their mouths in return.
Simply said, I can’t WAIT for William & Catherine to ascend the throne!
One of your best, Tom! So glad you are off the royal rota and can share your unique insights with us!!
Great article, Tom, and lots of wonderful comments below. I really can't add to them, except to voice that I believe the reason PW is so popular is BECAUSE he has chosen a different path than that of his father. Years ago, it was simply accepted that things were the way they were because "that's how it's always done" (insert issue here - child raising, public attendance, overseas visits, etc). But in this day and age with the internet and social media, everything is looked at and questioned more closely. And PW and PC know that. Good for them! Personally I think they are brilliant!
Plus, popular can come and go. Evidently a lot of people are either too young or have forgotten her Elizabeth was not that popular for a long time and then bombed even lower after Diana died. It's only when Elizabeth hit what people think of as the elderly people started coming around to her again.
I surmise from reading Tom Bower’s book on Charles that he is a narcissist and that informs his desperation to be loved by the public and also the way he has reared his children. The evidence in Bower’s book showed a man who looked at everything through the lens of how it affected him personally.
Mortality is the ultimate power player against whom nobody ever wins. This is where Charles is now. As he nears the end of his life, the King's struggles are to secure what agency he can while he can. He's well aware that the deck is stacked against him. His ambivalence about Harry is understandable; his impotence against Andrew unforgivable.
I can't help but see a little of the American generation wars – boomers vs millennial – playing out here too, just in royal fashion.
Great Sunday morning read Tom.
I don't think you could call it Boomer, a term I now hate as it has become pejorative, against millennial. What it is an older generation and a younger generation not seeing eye to eye. This is been going on forever. The young want to be different things their parents. My generation did it. Probably every generation back to God knows when wants to be different than their parents. And appearance forget what it's like to be young and so disapprove of the young doing the very thing that they did when they were young. As an aside, did you know that so-called boomers are divided into two parts. You have the true boomers born right after the war and then what's called generation Jones which is from 57 to 63 or 64. Both are slightly different. Howdy Duty as opposed to Captain kangaroo.
I'm the first of Gen X or the last of Gen Jones (1965 baby). I don't agree that Millenial, Gen Z, or Boomer is a pejorative. I of course recognize that those who want to argue use it as such.
We're (Gen X) a kinda bridge between Boomers and Millenials. In my view, both gens seem pretty set in their beliefs, which are far apart.
Gen X parents of Millenials raised our kids in a much less formal way. I suspect that's partly responsible for the differences in beliefs about what's important re rituals, etc.
And like most Gen Xers, I just shake my head at the vitriol between the other generations.
Hopefully, the King and his son can find their way to peace. But it doesn't seem hopeful at the moment.