Prince William to ditch 'ridiculous' tradition in shake-up from King Charles

Daily Mirror

6 days ago

Prince William may abandon a royal tradition that has been passed down through the generations and is reminiscent of a Disney movie, a royal source has claimed
Prince William is facing calls to break with a long-standing Royal Family tradition deemed "ridiculous" and fit for a Disney fairy tale. As the Prince of Wales, who recently turned 43, begins to contemplate his coronation ceremony, there is speculation that he may opt for a more low-key affair.
His father, King Charles, has already set the tone by shortening his coronation ceremony by half an hour compared to Queen Elizabeth II's three-hour extravaganza. According to Sunday Times Royal Editor Roya Nikkah, Prince William has hinted that his coronation will be a departure from the norm, seeking a ceremony that is both "relevant" to modern times and "unifying" for the Commonwealth.
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A source close to the Prince revealed that his coronation may be more subdued, drawing inspiration from the simple coronations of medieval kings. They suggested that the ceremony should focus on elements that are pertinent to today's society, reflect diversity, and strip away unnecessary pomp.
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One proposal is to do away with the Imperial State Crown, a £5 billion masterpiece crafted in 1937, featuring 3,170 precious stones. The crown has been a staple of coronations, with Charles donning it to lead the procession after his crowning.
However, some argue that it is time to retire this symbol of a bygone era. An insider scoffed at the idea of a Disney-esque coronation, recalling instead the memorable attire from William and Catherine's wedding day: "That ridiculous thing that looks like it's out of Disney? No. 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," reports Cambridgeshire Live.
The choice of crown for Prince William's future coronation remains uncertain, but there's a nostalgic pull towards the Imperial State Crown, which carries connections to his father and grandmother, as highlighted by The Times.
Prince William isn't one to always stick to tradition; in 2024, he eschewed the expected Court Dress at the Order of the Garter event.
While King Charles III donned the traditional "knee socks and embroidered garter," William chose a modern white tie ensemble with regular trousers.
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Daily Mail Diary Editor Richard Eden expressed his letdown at the time, saying: "William was at the event, but he opted for white tie and just regular trousers – so a bit of a disappointment really. It would be great to see him in those silk stockings and breeches."
Despite previous appearances in knee-breeches, Eden notes William seems "uncomfortable" in such formal wear, though he muses that Princess Kate likely relishes these occasions.
Eden observed: "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."