William’s had a rotten 18 months. Many have remarked he’s appeared unusually sombre – and not just when standing next to Prince Andrew. Now royal author A.N. WILSON reveals: What’s eating William

All part of the modern monarchy he aims to build, no doubt. But there are dangers here.
Unlike his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, William will not become king of a nation united in its spontaneous belief in monarchy. A recent survey shows that 60 per cent of people between the ages of 16 and 30 believe that Britain should become a republic, and, alarmingly, only about half of older age groups are in favour of the monarchy continuing.

When Queen Elizabeth II died, there was an outpouring of grief which did, quite genuinely, unite the nation. But united us in the recognition that we revered her – her dutiful acceptance of the burden and responsibility of her office without question.

William appears to want things to be more casual. He told one interviewer that he would never be royal with a capital R. Yet if you are Prince of Wales, royal with a capital R is what you are. William has said that he does not expect Prince George to serve in the military unless he chooses to do so. But, again, the monarch is someone whose role is deeply entwined with the life of the Armed Forces.

Why would William not prioritise family life in such circumstances and spend precious time with George, Charlotte and Louis?
Even quite cynical members of the services, during the reign of the late Queen felt they were serving her. The fact that the King turns up in uniform on formal occasions – not just to functions for the Army, Navy or Air Force – is a sign to everyone that he once served in the Royal Navy, and has ‘done his bit’. Casually to remark, as William did, that he did not expect George to serve in the Armed Forces could be taken as a failure to grasp the job specifications.

Queen Elizabeth was a woman of faith. Her Christianity defined her entire attitude to life. Charles, bafflingly, has said he wants to be the Defender of Faiths. None of us can guess what this is supposed to mean – and when we watch him entertaining fire worshippers and witch doctors in the gardens of Highgrove we would probably rather not ask too deeply.