LONDON –
The world watched as Prince William grew from a tree-headed student to a daring lifeguard pilot to a balding father of three.
But when he turns 40 on Tuesday, William makes the biggest change to date: taking on an increasingly central role in the royal family as he prepares for his eventual accession to the throne.
This became clear two weeks ago when William took center stage at an extravaganza concert marking the 1970s on the throne of Queen Elizabeth II, praising his grandmother as an environmental innovator as he called for action on climate change.
“Tonight was full of such optimism and joy – and there is hope,” he said as images of wildlife, oceans and jungles projected onto the walls of Buckingham Palace behind him. “Together, if we harness the best of humanity and restore our planet, we will protect it for our children, our grandchildren and future generations.”
Get ready to see more than that.
Delayed by age and health problems, the 96-year-old queen gradually transferred more responsibilities to her son and heir, Prince Charles. This, in turn, gave William, his eldest son, a more important role and more opportunities to put the stamp on the new generation of the monarchy.
“William really wanted to show how he would treat things differently,” said Pauline McLaren, a royal expert and author of King’s Fever: The British Monarchy in Consumer Culture.
“And so we see this more and more, where the emphasis is on the future of the line, and Charles is more and more in the same position as William. “It always reminds us that William is after Charles,” she added.
William’s position as a possible heir to the throne was, of course, sealed at his birth on June 21, 1982, the first son of Charles and the late Princess Diana. This put him in the public eye from the second Charles and Diana introduced him to television in front of the Lindo wing of St Mary’s Hospital in London.
The world has watched William from his school days in London to his courtship of Kate Middleton at St Andrews University in Scotland and their grand marriage at Westminster Abbey.
He paraded in front of the cameras again when he graduated from the Royal Sandhurst Military Academy, after which he transferred to active service in the army, navy and the Royal Air Force. Finally, he became a pilot of a civilian air ambulance before moving to full-time royal duties five years ago.
His charities and causes – from mental health to the environment – have hinted at what a monarch he may be one day.
But events just before and during the Queen’s platinum jubilee celebrations began to give a clearer indication of William’s vision for the future.
William and Kate represented the Queen last March when they toured Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas, three of the 14 independent states where the British monarch still serves as head of state.
They were greeted with brass bands and gala dinners, but also demonstrations by protesters demanding reparations for Britain’s role in enslaving millions of Africans. Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holnes has told royalty that his country intends to become a republic by severing ties with the monarchy.
After the trip, the young royalty were criticized as “deaf” for perpetuating the images of British colonial rule.
But instead of returning to the traditional Windsor House response, “never complain, never explain,” William took the unusual step of issuing a statement reflecting everything that had happened.
“I know this tour has put even more of a focus on the past and the future,” William said. “In Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas, this future is for the people to decide.
“Catherine and I are committed to the service,” he continued. “For us, it’s not about telling people what to do. It’s about serving them and supporting them in whatever way they think is best. ”
This readiness for access is crucial for the House of Windsor, as it seeks to remain suitable for younger people and strengthen its role in British society, McLaren said.
“It is important for William to show that there will be changes in the monarchy,” she said. “Otherwise, you know, I suspect he really won’t survive.”
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