Prince William and Kate Middleton are redefining the Royal Family’s traditions and customs. As the Prince and Princess of Wales, they are working toward creating a more modern monarchy, a goal they have consistently shown through their approach to raising their children.
The couple has been candid about various aspects of their private life, which has significantly influenced how the public perceives them, boosting their popularity. However, while they openly discuss many topics, is their family life truly as ideal as it seems?
It might be time for them to take the next step by addressing the challenges and demands of marriage, which their relationship likely experiences as well—just like any other couple. This step could be vital in making them even more relatable and could play a key role in securing the monarchy’s future for generations to come.
Prince William and Kate Middleton are often praised for their progressive vision of what a modern monarchy should represent. Years ago, they began steering the Royal Family in a more contemporary direction, starting with their parenting style. William has drawn significant inspiration from his mother, Princess Diana, who sought to give him and Prince Harry an upbringing that differed from the traditional royal experience. For instance, their childhood wasn’t restricted to wearing formal attire and adhering strictly to royal protocol.
Diana believed in exposing her children to both royal and everyday life. She felt that these experiences would positively influence them in the future. As she reasoned, “If they hadn’t been to a fast food restaurant or ridden the subway, how would they ever connect to members of the public?”
While visits to McDonald’s or subway rides were just small parts of their experiences, they symbolized something much larger. William appears to have embraced these lessons, passing them along with Kate to their children.
Modernizing the monarchy, however, extends beyond parenting. During a visit to South Africa, William highlighted the importance of the Royal Family engaging in philanthropic efforts and promoting empathy.
Additionally, he aims to leverage his position to foster collaborations that create meaningful societal impact. This approach aligns with his vision of a modern monarchy and underscores the importance of maintaining a strong connection with the public.
They ‘should speak on negative sides of their marriage’
William and Kate aim to be role models and, in recent years, have decided to share glimpses of their private lives with the public through social media. Kate often posts pictures of her children, and while the Royal Family traditionally avoided discussing health matters, she chose to openly share her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
The heartfelt video in which Kate announced she was cancer-free was another example of how William and Kate have embraced transparency over secrecy. British broadcaster Jonathan Sacerdoti told Fox News that the couple “broke with royal tradition” by sharing the video and revealing what they experienced as a family during such a difficult time. He further noted that Kate has been “humanized,” a term that may best capture how William and Kate hope to present a modernized image of the Royal Family.
However, this effort to humanize themselves shouldn’t solely focus on positive aspects. This is where William and Kate could take further steps. To truly connect with the public and appear relatable, they could also address the challenges in their lives, such as the complexities of marriage.
For example, it would be refreshing to hear them admit: “Yes, we argue sometimes,” or “Yes, we disagree in certain aspects of how the children should be raised.”
“Showing the world that they are human”
Like any other couple, the Prince and Princess of Wales undoubtedly face marital challenges. While they are not obligated to share private details about their relationship, acknowledging that they, too, experience arguments could help make the Royal Family appear more relatable and modern.
This doesn’t mean William should say, “Oh by the way, yesterday I screamed at my wife because of this or that,” or Kate admitting, “I don’t think William is tough enough when our children have misbehaved.” Instead, it’s about recognizing that they, like millions of other couples, occasionally have disagreements or heated discussions.
Royal expert and author Tom Quinn has previously claimed that William and Kate have “terrible rows where they throw things at each other.” While such details might not be something they choose to reveal, connecting with the public on marriage issues and how they resolve them could strengthen the bond between the Royal Family and their supporters worldwide.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have already given the public a glimpse into their lives through videos showing their family in everyday settings and by being open about their children’s hobbies and personalities. Perhaps they could take it a step further by having a Q&A column every Sunday in The Guardian, sharing advice on sustaining a marriage and handling conflicts.
Expressing emotions—both positive and negative—is one of the clearest ways to demonstrate humanity. It might be time for Prince William and Kate Middleton to embrace this approach.
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