Prince William may have faced years of criticism over his royal workload, but experts believe the future king is taking a much more calculated approach to his role.
The Prince of Wales has often been labelled “work-shy” by critics, but celebrity branding expert Dan Wakeford told Fox News that William appears to be deliberately managing his time in an effort to protect both his family and the future of the monarchy.
According to Wakeford, William has become particularly skilled at maintaining clear boundaries, including stepping back during holidays and protecting the privacy of his children and the wellbeing of his wife, Kate Middleton.
While that approach has attracted criticism from some royal watchers, Wakeford suggested William is operating less like a traditional royal and more like a modern chief executive.
He said the prince is being strategic about where he focuses his energy, while also studying how the monarchy can remain relevant and sustainable in the years ahead.
Wakeford added that William’s ability to separate his public responsibilities from his private life could also help him avoid burnout and perform his duties more effectively.
The expert pointed to William’s strong popularity ratings as evidence that the strategy appears to be working.
Royal biographer Christopher Andersen also rejected suggestions that William is reluctant to work, describing the prince as the opposite of “work-shy.”
Andersen argued that treating the monarchy more like a major organisation would hardly be surprising, given that the Royal Family has long been referred to as “The Firm” and oversees significant property holdings, finances and public responsibilities.
British broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard offered a similar assessment, drawing a distinction between the roles of King Charles and his eldest son.
She described Charles as a “custodian” focused on preserving the institution and continuing efforts toward a slimmer monarchy, while William is increasingly positioning himself as the strategist responsible for preparing it for the next several decades.
Chard suggested that traditional royal charity work will remain an important part of the monarchy, but future engagements could become more focused and efficient, with greater attention given to causes where royal involvement can have the biggest impact.
William has already shown signs of that approach through projects such as Homewards, his five-year initiative aimed at demonstrating that homelessness can be ended.
The programme was launched on June 26, 2023, and has become one of the Prince of Wales’ most prominent long-term projects alongside his wider royal duties.
