Why Prince William & Kate Middleton Are Being Told They Can’t 'Rely on Their Popularity Forever'
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Now that Kate Middleton’s health is back on track, many royal insiders are wondering if she and Prince William will get back to work on a full-time basis.
It’s been a rough few years for the couple, but with bright prospects ahead, there’s a call for the royal duo to make more appearances. Unfortunately, William’s “Work-Shy Willie” nickname is still sticking, and his plan for fewer royal patronages isn’t sitting well with everyone.
The calls for the Prince and Princess of Wales to hit the road are getting louder and louder after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s successful trip to Australia last month.
“The couple [William and Kate] are not as visible as they need to be and they are certainly less visible than the previous Prince and Princess of Wales in their early days when they were firing on all cylinders,” Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, told The I Paper. “They handle royal duties in a very different way.”
Little thinks that their current plan is starting to fizzle out. “They can’t rely on their popularity forever,” he noted.
New Idea magazine reported that a “revenge tour” in Australia was in the works after William’s estranged brother visited recently. A source claimed to the Australian publication that “an official tour by them will take any gloss off Prince Harry and Meghan’s recent, controversial visit.”
The Sussexes’ trip was deemed “controversial” because they took on paid speaking engagements in addition to their philanthropic pursuits. However, they are free to pursue any lucrative opportunities since they are no longer working royals and are financially self-sustaining.
William might also want to get a few more dates on his calendar because Graham Smith, the chief executive of the anti-monarchy group Republic, is relentless in his criticism of the “work-shy family.”
“The palace likes to paint a picture of busy royals supporting good causes,” he told the Scottish media outlet, The National, in October 2025. “The reality is a work-shy family who occasionally patronize charities – usually a short drive from Windsor – to give an entirely false impression.”
With Harry and Meghan finally finding a groove after a few missteps with their Archewell Foundation, it’s time for William and Kate to realize that they need a more robust work plan, too.
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