King Charles III May Have Found Prince William & Kate Middleton's Video 'Distinctly Un-Regal'
Prince William and Kate Middleton stepped outside their comfort zone when they shared a very personal and cinematic view of their life while giving an update about her cancer battle. The romanticized version of their relationship was a hit with royal fans, but it might not have been a hit with King Charles III, who was reportedly less than thrilled about the clip’s release.
While the monarch hasn’t commented publicly on the Princess of Wales’ health, the couple’s new approach to their public image has ruffled a few feathers at the palace, according to the Daily Mail. “All that lying round, hugging and kissing – they’re not soppy teenagers,” a source told the media outlet. “It felt manipulative. It’s the sort of thing that Meghan would make.” There have been many comparisons to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s media-savvy ways, but the insider thought they should have taken a more philanthropic approach.
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“All the time, effort, and expense put into making the video could have been much better spent elsewhere. Why not visit other women being treated for cancer? That’s what Diana would have done,” they added. While the Princess Diana touch would have been nice, Charles reportedly has some thoughts about Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton somewhat endorsing William and Kate’s PDA by appearing in the video. “There’s no coincidence that the Middletons appear in it and not the King and Queen,” a second source noted. “I can assure you that Charles and Camilla will not be filmed kissing each other on a beach [as William and Catherine were] until hell freezes over. It’s distinctly un-regal.”
What some people are forgetting is that the Prince and Princess of Wales put out a video for the May 2022 coronation that featured a behind-the-scenes look at their day — even though the historical event was all about King Charles. Royal reporter Richard Eden warned on the Palace Confidential talk show in December 2023 that the couple is defying royal protocols by trying to control their public image. “Kensington Palace going down this route of the Hollywood-style video does make me quite uneasy,” he said. “William and Catherine are vulnerable to PR people who want them to be these slick celebrities. That’s not what the Royal Family is. It’s important to make that distinction.”
Queen Elizabeth II’s death in September 2022 was the end of a regal era in the royal family. King Charles’ reign has been fraught with scandals and a sense of uneasiness about the relevance of the palace in modern society. William and Kate represent the future of the royal family, but the resistance to change still looms large in the U.K.
Before you go, click to see all the biggest royal scandals in the past 50 years.
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