The Duke of Cambridge plans to use just half the staff his father the Prince of Wales has, and wants to end the longstanding royal tradition of “never complain, never explain”, reports have claimed.
Prince William, 39, is said to have met with aides following unprecedented backlash from his eight-day Caribbean tour with wife, Kate Middleton.
Ending their trip to Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas on Sunday, Britain’s future king acknowledged the monarchy’s days in those nations may be numbered as he stated the future “is for the people to decide upon”.
In a statement reflecting on the tour, William insisted who the Commonwealth chooses to be its leader “isn’t what is on my mind”, saying what concerned him was its potential to “create a better future for the people who form it”.
He stressed that he and Kate, 40, were “committed to service” and saw their role as supporting people, “not telling them what to do”.
A number of newspaper reports on Monday carried comments from sources suggesting William had been considering how long-held protocols can be modernised when he ascends the throne.
Changes could include halving staff when he becomes the Prince of Wales, and ending the policy of “never complain, never explain”, the newspapers reported.
William’s statement might be interpreted as a response to days of criticism the couple faced during their ill-fated tour, from accusations that Belize locals were not consulted about a royal engagement to calls for slavery reparations in Jamaica.
The Duke is said to have admitted his three-country tour had “brought into even sharper focus” questions about the past and future of the monarchy.
It is claimed he always intended to discuss republicanism whilst on tour, but had been unsure how to approach it and so listened to what people on the ground had to say to gauge how to move forward with his address, the Telegraph reports.
The couple were accused of being “tone deaf” after they were seen shaking hands with crowds behind a wire mesh fence in Kingston, while images of the pair riding in the back of a Land Rover were denounced as harking back to colonial days.
Media coverage of the tour has been split, with some emphasising the positive impact of their presence in the Caribbean, while others described the fence photograph as a “PR disaster”.
William, who is said to not monitor social media but is aware of the backlash, is allegedly keen to change the narrative that he is angry about the way his visit was received.
Instead he wants to ensure people he is aware of the issues and is here to “listen and learn” as he is aware the future of the Commonwealth is something he will be dealing with when he ascends to the throne.
The Duke is thought to meet with the Queen at Windsor Castle this week for a debrief on the Caribbean tour, according to reports, with further discussions expected with Kensington Palace courtiers.
