But whether William will follow suit remains uncertain. Some close to the prince believe the crown appears overly theatrical. One source quipped, “That ridiculous thing that looks like it’s out of Disney? No.” Instead, they recalled the simplicity and elegance of William and Catherine’s attire during Charles’ coronation. “What I remember most about that day were William and Catherine’s robes, Catherine’s beautiful, simple headpiece, and William wearing nothing on his head.”
Despite its historic symbolism and family significance, William may choose to leave the Imperial Crown out of his own ceremony entirely.
Modern Dress Over Court Tradition
This isn’t the first time Prince William has strayed from royal tradition. At the 2024 Order of the Garter ceremony, he chose a modern white tie and trousers instead of the traditional Court Dress, which includes silk stockings and knee-breeches.
While King Charles wore the full regalia — including the classic garter outfit with embroidered details — William’s decision to skip the traditional look didn’t go unnoticed. Daily Mail Diary Editor Richard Eden remarked, “It would be great to see him in those silk stockings and breeches,” though he noted William seems “uncomfortable” in such attire.
Still, it appears William’s more relaxed approach is a source of amusement for Princess Kate. “You can always see her sort of teasing and giggling at him — particularly when it’s the Order of the Garter ceremony where he has to wear all the velvet robes and the feathers. That’s always fun,” Eden added.
As plans for Prince William’s future coronation continue to take shape, one thing seems clear: the next king may be ready to redefine royal ceremony to better reflect the values of the modern era.
