Prince William says he wants to carry out his duties with a smaller r in the Royal has defined his role as heir to the throne.
The future king was speaking at the end of his four-day visit to South Africa where he mixed the informal with traditional elements of the monarchy, and said he was trying to do things differently and wanted to be a prince for his generation.
William said what mattered to him was impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people and stressed empathy was also important because I really care about what I do.
The Prince of Wales said he hoped to carry out overseas tours with the his wife Kate who this autumn returned to royal duties after completing a course of cancer treatment.
His comments were made in an interview with British press at the end of a four-day visit to Cape Town, which concluded on Thursday, where the prince staged his Earthshot Prize environmental awards.
Asked about a modern approach to the monarchy he appeared to be adopting, William replied: Its hard to describe what that is all about, but I can only describe what Im trying to do, and thats Im trying to do it differently and Im trying to do it for my generation.
And to give you more (of) an understanding around it, Im doing it with maybe a smaller r in the royal, if you like, thats maybe a better way of saying it.
US actor Billy Porter takes a selfie with William and Earthshot ambassadors Nomzamo Mbatha and Robert Irwin at the Earthshot Prize ceremony on Wednesday (Picture: Phil Noble-Pool/Getty Images)During his time in Cape Town, William performed the statesman-like duty of sitting down for talks with South Africas president Cyril Ramaphosa, but also dressed casually and took part in informal events.
The projects he is pursuing, attempting to find solutions to homelessness and major environmental issues, are contemporary issues growing in prominence that are likely to resonate with a younger generation.
William explained his aims: So its more about impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people.
And Im also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do. It helps impact peoples lives.
William learns about a seaweed business to celebrate local innovation at Portside Tower, Capetown on Thursday (Picture: via Reuters)And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.
So thats what Im trying to bring, thats what Catherine is trying to bring as well.
William has described the past year that saw his wife and father the King being treated for cancer as brutal.
During the interview William spoke candidly about the royal familys major health scares, describing 2024 as probably been the hardest year in my life and a dreadful experience.
The prince attends a meet and greet with the 2024 Earthshot Prize Finalists at the Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town on Wednesday (Picture: Getty Images)But he sounded optimistic about possible joint overseas engagements with his wife: I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so well have some more trips maybe lined up.
The last foreign trip the couple made together was when Kate joined her husband in Boston, US for the Earthshot Prize awards ceremony in 2022.
This evening William, who has now returned to the UK, and Kate attended a Remembrance service at the Royal Albert Hall.
Queen Camilla did not attend the service after being diagnosed with a chest infection.
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