An extraordinary year’: Prince William celebrates turning 43

And yesterday, William, the Prince of Wales, turned 43. Now, we’ve all watched the heir to the British throne grow up, get married, have a family, and really establish himself as a reliable and empathetic senior working royal—well on the way to the top job. But it all started on the 21st of June in 1982, with much excitement, when it was announced that he had arrived.

Joining me now is the royal editor for the Daily Bureau, Russell Myers. Russell, it’s so great to see all the footage of William growing up—obviously into the man he is today. He’s evidently someone who understands the responsibility of his station. What are your reflections on the prince on his birthday?

Well, hi there, Karen. Well, it’s interesting, isn’t it? Because, you know, turning 43 wouldn’t normally be one of those milestone birthdays, but I think there’s been a lot to be said about the Prince of Wales. It’s been quite an extraordinary year, not only for him but, of course, for his family—his father and his wife undergoing cancer treatment in the last year—and he’s had an awful lot on his shoulders. I think he’s sort of trying to work all of that out, of course, how his father was doing at the time, looking after three children, and what it would mean for him with his wife not only from family life but with the monarchy as well.

And whilst he’s doing that, he’s sort of trying out these new pillars—I call them—sort of, you know, when he’s working with the environment, homelessness, and other issues. It’s definitely taking the monarchy in a different direction—more of an evolution than revolution. And certainly, William is trying to get ahead. I suppose he’s a king-in-waiting, and he’s got to be prepared. I think, in recent years, we’ve seen him and Catherine taking on a very different approach to how the job is done. They’re trying to work out these central facets of their duties, and it’s not necessarily just about traveling around the country doing as many jobs as possible—like Princess Anne or even the King. I mean, he’s had a ferocious schedule over the last few months, but he’s certainly trying to effect generational change—whether that’s related to the environment, homelessness, or programs like the Princess of Wales’s early years development initiative. It’s definitely heading in a new direction now.

It most definitely is. And earlier in the show, we spoke about Royal Ascot, but I’d love to have your insights as well, including an update on Catherine’s well-being after her much-reported absence.

Well, indeed. I think it was a bit of a communication mess at best, because Kensington Palace said that they had never confirmed her attendance; it was very much a wish of the festival. Her name was, of course, printed in the official program, and she was due to travel in the second carriage with Prince William. It was unfortunate that her name was announced just before the statement from Kensington Palace confirming she wouldn’t be attending on Wednesday. I think, when all is said and done, it’s just an indication of how much Princess Kate needs to pace herself. Sometimes, we forget that she’s been carrying quite a big schedule over the last week—visiting the VNA, attending Trooping the Colour, and engagements at Kensington Palace. The Palace and the Princess herself have always said she needs to stagger her return, take it easy, and focus on her recovery—that has to come first and foremost.

But, as you know, Royal Ascot is a fantastic occasion for the Royals to let their hair down, have a bit of fun, and enjoy time with family and friends. I’m sure she’ll be disappointed not to make it, but hopefully next year.

Now, onto The King. Netflix has announced that King Charles and Idris Elba are teaming up for a documentary to mark 50 years of The King’s Trust. What do we know so far, Russell?

Well, this is fascinating, and I think it shows you the different direction Buckingham Palace is definitely heading in. The King is now entering this new series with Idris Elba, a British award-winning actor. It’s all about The King’s Trust—formerly the Prince’s Trust—that Charles set up in 1976. All that time ago, he used his modest naval pension to establish the foundation, which has literally changed the lives of hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of young people. One of those young people was Idris Elba himself; he credits the trust for changing his life. He was awarded a grant to pursue a fantastic career.

This documentary will follow not only the trust’s work but also feature the King in conversation with people about the 50 years of the trust. I’m very excited for it—it’s started filming this week, and the film or musical related to it is expected to be released next autumn. Fingers crossed it all goes to plan. Again, the King is taking a different approach, starting with Netflix. He already has another documentary coming out titled “Harmony,” which looks at sustainability, scheduled with Amazon later this year. Exciting times for Buckingham Palace, I think, and good on him for taking some risks and doing his own thing.

And we know how attached Harry and Meghan are to the Sussex name and brand, but there’s been a report this week that they apparently didn’t celebrate Sussex Day. That’s upset a few people. What’s the story?

Well, it has, indeed. I must admit I had a chuckle because I live in Sussex and didn’t even know it was Sussex Day. It’s become a big occasion that the local mayor promotes, but perhaps he’s trying to drum up support for upcoming events like school fairs. When Harry and Meghan were made Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018, it was a notable moment. I remember traveling around the county with them back in 2008—they did an away day that went really well. That was the first and last time they visited the area, of course.

There’s ongoing discussion about their titles and relevance, especially since Meghan is often seen signing notes with the royal cipher and referring to herself as the Duchess of Sussex in her ventures. But what’s the benefit for the UK and Sussex County? Honestly, Sussex Day isn’t widely celebrated here, and I think next year, they might come back for it. You never know.

Top marks to the mayor for getting the county in the news, I have to say.

Finally, you recently had an exclusive interview with Robert Irwin about why Prince William is the right person to champion environmental causes. What did he have to say?

Yes, this was a fascinating chat. Robert Owen is a world-renowned conservationist—like his late father—and he worked with Prince William for the Earthshot Prize in Cape Town last November, which is where I first met him. Having this interview gave us a good insight into the real William. We discussed their shared bond over conservation and the environment. I was in Cape Town when William was walking through stunning scenery with Table Mountain in the background, talking to park rangers about biodiversity and sustainability. Robert is actually in the UK this week because it’s London Climate Week, and he’s teaming up with William again.

He says the Earthshot Prize is an incredible force, and Prince William is truly a leading figure in this field now. He’s very diligent and knows exactly what he wants to achieve. This ties into the idea of generational change we mentioned earlier. It’s great to see William bringing in people like Robert and other celebrities who can make a difference in their own fields. I think William is a very worthy ambassador for this cause.

What a great chat. Now, onto a slightly morbid but not unexpected topic: we understand that planning for The King’s passing is already underway. It’s a difficult subject, but one that’s necessary, isn’t it?

Absolutely. The planning for the Queen’s passing and the coronation was extensive, and you only need to look at the recent Trooping the Colour rehearsals—three of them on the streets of London in the early hours—to see how much preparation goes into these events. These plans are kept tightly under wraps, but the royal family and the government are well aware of what’s needed. The funeral arrangements, in particular, are meticulously planned, as it’s very different from most of our experiences.

King Charles is aware that he’s in his later years, but it’s still early days when it comes to state funerals and succession planning. A lot of this work is happening behind the scenes, and there’s no cause for alarm. The palace reports that his health and treatment are progressing well, and he’s maintaining a busy schedule. Fingers crossed, this will be the case for many years to come. It’s always better to be organized, after all.

Thank you so much, Russell Myers.