Prince William speaks to a surprised customer on the phone wishing to book a table (Image: Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace)
The Prince of Wales, with his striking beard, casual open-neck shirts and pristine white trainers, embodies the essence of a thoroughly modern Royal.
He has always been dedicated to a select few causes that hold deep significance for him, rather than spreading himself thin across hundreds of charities.
This approach is evident in the informal touch he brings to his public appearances, whether it’s answering a phone at a restaurant, surprising customers by serving burgers from a van, or buying a round of drinks at a Wetherspoons pub for Aston Villa fans.
This strategy continues to rank Prince William as one of the most popular and relatable members of the Royal Family.
The Prince of Wales meeting Aston Villa supporters in a JD Wetherspoon pub (Image: PA)
Former BBC Royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes this is the secret to his ongoing success. “For a while now, William has been putting into action the way that he intends to do the job,” Jennie tells OK!
“And that, as he now made clear, is royal with a small r. You could say that the small ‘r’ also stands for relatable, because that is what he is showing himself to be.
“I think he gets quite a kick out of surprising people – by taking calls in a restaurant, serving people from burger stalls or dropping into a pub to buy a round of drinks.
“I think William finds it refreshing to be able to interact without all the fuss that generally goes with a Royal visit. And I’m sure he also realises that in PR terms, it is extremely effective.”
William speaks during the inaugural Emergency and Critical Care Conference at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre (Image: PA)
These comments were made after Prince William surprised patrons at a Wetherspoons pub in Birmingham.
The unexpected visit followed his appointment as Patron of the College of Paramedics and a meeting with first-responders.
After expressing his gratitude for their “best wishes” following the Princess of Wales’ announcement of her cancer remission, the 42-year-old Duke joked about visiting the nearby pub to meet fellow Aston Villa fans.
Patrons were astounded when the future king walked into The London and North Western pub at Birmingham New Street station, greeted everyone, and joined a table of locals.
William surprised the footie fans (Image: Mirror)
He had arranged a meet-up with regular Villa supporters and treated them to a round of beers.
Prince William’s modern take on Royal duties has caught the public’s eye, with expert Jennie drawing parallels between his outlook and that of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
Discussing the need for the Royals to evolve, Jennie added: “It’s important for the Royal Family to be in touch as much as possible with the way ordinary people feel and, as the late queen once remarked, deference can obscure the truth. In her golden wedding speech she compared the way governments and the monarchy have to judge public opinion.”
She quoted the late monarch saying: “She said: ‘That consent, (of the people) or the lack of it, is expressed for you, Prime Minister, through the ballot box. It is a tough, even brutal, system but at least the message is a clear one for all to read. For us, a Royal Family, however, the message is often harder to read, obscured as it can be by deference, rhetoric or the conflicting currents of public opinion. But read it we must.'”
Jennie commented further: “I think by deliberately cutting down on the need for deference, William is finding a clearer path to understanding public opinion. And I think his late grandmother would very much approve.”
Prince William beams as he meets delegates (Image: PA)
Embracing a more approachable role, Prince William openly discussed last year how he envisages his Royal duties, opting for what he calls a “smaller r in the royal”.
At the time, the Prince emphasised the importance of “impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people”, adding that “empathy” was crucial “because I really care about what I do”.
He expressed his desire to undertake overseas tours with the Princess of Wales, who recently resumed her Royal duties after undergoing cancer treatment.
When questioned about his modern approach to monarchy, William responded: “It’s hard to describe what that is all about, but I can only describe what I’m trying to do, and that’s I’m trying to do it differently and I’m trying to do it for my generation.”
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The Prince is currently involved in projects aimed at addressing homelessness and significant environmental issues – contemporary problems that are gaining attention and likely to resonate with younger generations.
William elaborated on his objectives: “So it’s more about impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people.
And I’m also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do. It helps impact people’s lives. And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world. So that’s what I’m trying to bring, that’s what Catherine is trying to bring as well.”
