The Prince and Princess of Wales are rising above ongoing royal drama with a smile, according to the Mirror's royal editor Russell Myers, who said they are bringing much-needed lightness back to the Firm.
Speaking on this week's episode of Pod Save the King, Myers explained that while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle settle back into the UK and Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is locked in a legal battle with Thames Valley Police and the Central Criminal Court, the senior royals are keeping their heads down and getting on with the job. The King and Queen have been undertaking engagements after returning from their summer break, while William and Kate are enjoying time on away days.
Bringing lightness back to the Firm
“What William and Catherine are doing is not only putting their best foot forward, but actually enjoying the job. It doesn’t need to be so heavy all the time,” Russell said. “They’re not going to speak about Harry and Meghan, they’re not going to speak about Andrew’s court case, they just want to get on with life and have a bit of fun along the way.”
The Mirror’s deputy royal editor Jennifer Newton agreed, explaining that while the couple are having a nice time on engagements, there is no need for formal statements about drama they are not involved with. “And is this not the best way to say something without saying anything at all? Just getting on with it and having fun. They don’t have to put out any statements when these appearances do all the talking,” she said.
Recent engagements and light-hearted moments
In the last two weeks, William and Kate have been on a number of engagements that have seen them sharing a laugh with members of the community. Last week, William travelled to the Welsh village of Skenfrith to learn about its flood defences, where he revealed he once had a part-time job as a young boy working at a ‘dodgy car boot sale’.
William was taken down memory lane by Rod and Helen Wyatt after they told him about how their family has endured four major floods in six years at the settlement in Monmouthshire. Mr Wyatt told him: “First time I met you, you were this high,” holding up his hand waist high. “In Glanusk Estate – you sold me a CD from a bric-a-brac stall.” William laughed and replied: “Dodgy car boot sale, yes, I remember that.” Mr Wyatt joked: “Still doing that?” and the future king joked: “No, I don’t sell… it’s dried up a bit that one, perhaps I should reopen it.”
Just two days earlier, the Princess of Wales also undertook a solo engagement as she surprised elderly passengers who use a rural minibus service by helping to pick them up and take them to a local lunch club, where she got stuck into a bowl of crisps. Kate travelled to the village of Pulborough last week to mark the 50th anniversary of the West Sussex Minibus, which has a team of volunteers that help transport the elderly across the local area in its fleet of vehicles.
A 'good double act' doing the washing up
The group ended up at Pulborough Village Hall, where a weekly lunch club is held providing a welcoming space for people to come together for activities and conversation. To the shock of guests, the future queen sat down to chat with each table, munching on crisps and talking happily about how she and Prince William are a ‘good double act’ doing the washing up.
