Prince William and Prince Charles have grown closer over the past two years, with the fallout from Prince Andrew's Newsnight interview and Harry and Meghan's decision to quit royal duties playing a key role. The relationship, once strained by William's hot-headed challenges to his father, has strengthened as they work together to protect the monarchy's reputation.
Courtiers had previously worried about the father-son dynamic, with William urging Charles to destroy the Royal Collection's ivory items to combat elephant poaching. Charles resisted, calling his son 'naive' and rebuking him for public comments. However, the two now seek each other's counsel, with Charles giving William more input in long-term planning.
The improvement is partly natural as they age and realise shared values, but also a necessity after blows to the institution's reputation. An aide noted that Charles understands his reign will be shorter than William's, making it crucial to involve him in planning. They are spending more time together and are more aligned.
William's marriage to Kate Middleton has also helped, as he now focuses on his own family in Norfolk rather than perceived slights from his father's household. Tensions had arisen over Charles using William's family to burnish his image, but these have eased as the two work together with common purpose.
