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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

How William will make Prince of Wales title his own - including 'ripping up rulebook'

The Queen's sad death has seen many changes for the royals - not least for Prince William.

When his father King Charles addressed the nation, just a day after the late monarch's passing, he declared he was bestowing his eldest son with the prestigious title Prince of Wales. Charles had previously held the title for more than 64 years before coming to the throne last month making him the longest-serving Prince of Wales in history. But it seems that William, who is the 22nd heir to the throne to be Prince of Wales, may be keen to use his role differently from his father and really make it his own...

Ditching royal tradition

Prince William on a trip to Wales last week (UK Press via Getty Images)
King Charles during his investiture ceremony as Prince of Wales in 1969 (Getty Images)

One key tradition that William is said to be ditching as Prince of Wales is a lavish investiture ceremony.

The elaborate ceremony traditionally sees the monarch present the Prince of Wales with the symbols associated with their title: the sword, coronet, ring, rod and mantle.

In 1969, Charles' investiture was held at Caernarfon Castle in a huge ceremony conducted by the late Queen.

But a royal source said there were "no plans for any kind of an investiture like the Prince’s father had".

“Right now the Prince and Princess of Wales are focussed on deepening the trust and respect of the people of Wales over time," they added.

Smaller, less stuffy office

William went without a tie at St George's Park earlier this week (PA)

Another way William will be different to his father is by reportedly having less staff than him - and a less stuffy office.

Earlier this year, the Sun reported that William and wife Kate would have just half the staff that work for his father Charles to "create a more cost-effective and less formal team".

Meanwhile, new book Courtiers: The Hidden Power Behind the Crown has claimed that William told his staff to do away with their suits while inside the office.

The says that one member of the household said: "He wants it to be casual.

“The kids run around the office, and he does not want it to be stuffy. If we have important meetings or are going to Buckingham Palace, then, of course, we [wear suits].”

'Ripping up rule book'

William and wife Kate during their Caribbean tour earlier this year (Getty Images)

Meanwhile it's previously been reported that William had been doing a lot of thinking about how long-held protocols can be modernised.

Changes include ending the the long-held policy of "never complain, never explain", it is said.

The Sun reported after his and Kate's tour of the Caribbean that William aims to “rip up the rulebook” and ditch old-fashioned methods to show they are modern royals.

A source said: "William and Kate will modernise how they work. It's a breath of fresh air.

"They were bruised by attacks that their Caribbean trip harked back to the colonial age. In future they will rip up the rule-book and do things ‘The Cambridge Way’. They’re trying to work out what that will look like."

Kate's role

Kate is now Princess of Wales (Getty Images)
Princess Diana was the last woman to use the title Princess of Wales (UK Press via Getty Images)

But it' not just William who will be wanting to make his new title his own - wife Kate is also striving to do the same.

When her husband became Prince of Wales, Kate then became the Princess of Wales, which saw the title come back into use after 25 years.

It was last used by William's late mother Princess Diana, who gained the title on on marrying Charles in 1981.

Charles' now wife Queen Consort Camilla could have technically used the title after she married Charles 17 years ago, but she decided not to out of respect for the late royal.

But a source close to William and Kate said: "The Prince and Princess of Wales will approach their roles in the modest and humble way they’ve approached their work previously

"The new Princess of Wales appreciates the history associated with this role but will understandably want to look to the future as she creates her own path."

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