Prince William is reportedly considering major decisions about the future of the monarchy, including passing on a key royal role he has "never felt comfortable with" to his cousin Zara Tindall. According to a well-placed royal source, William is eager to transfer racing responsibilities when he becomes King, as he does not share the same passion for horse racing as King Charles and Queen Camilla.
William's Discomfort with Racing
The royal source told The Times: "I never get the feeling the whole top hat and racing is really his thing, and he's said as much. He's never really seemed comfortable doing it." Despite this, William attended the second day of Royal Ascot last week, making the carriage procession alongside the Princess of Wales, who returned to the event for the first time since 2023. He also rode horseback during Trooping the Colour, paying tribute to his father.
Zara Tindall as Successor
Zara Tindall, a former Olympic equestrian like her mother Princess Anne, is widely tipped to take on a more significant royal role when William becomes King. The source noted that William understands the importance of Ascot to the racing community and UK plc, but he is unlikely to be as involved with Royal Ascot and the royal stud at Sandringham as previous monarchs.
Broader Monarchy Changes
As senior working royals like the Duke of Kent, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, and the Princess Royal are expected to scale back their duties, William is also expected to rely heavily on Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie as senior royals. Other non-working members of the Royal Family have also been suggested for more prominent roles upon his accession.
