Royal Life Under Scrutiny

A sharp assessment of how the Prince and Princess of Wales navigate duty and private life amid rising public scrutiny.

Royal Life Under Scrutiny as William and Kate Face Backlash

Liz Jones's column argues William and Kate have carved out a wholesome private life that at times clashes with royal duties. It highlights vacations and private time, contrasting it with heavy public responsibilities and a lower public schedule than some royals in the recent past. The piece notes William’s engagement count through June 2025 (71 for him, 9 for Kate, 22 jointly) versus Charles’s 233 engagements in the same period, framing a growing gap in public presence.

The column also discusses a move to Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park, suggesting the couple want distance from constant scrutiny while keeping a life of comfort. It quotes William saying the lodge could be his forever home and notes Bucking-ham Palace is undergoing a £369 million renovation, complicating the idea of a traditional royal home base. The author contrasts this with Queen Elizabeth’s example of duty, invoking a Netflix portrayal of a monarch’s choice to keep a formal center of power, Buckingham Palace, even during testing times.

Other elements cited include Kate’s serious illness and recovery, and a February Caribbean trip that kept the couple away from the Bafta awards, where William as Bafta president might have had duties. The piece uses these details to question whether the next generation will uphold the public role expected of them, or seek a more private, balanced life while still staying in the royal spotlight.

The article uses a mix of sharp critique and cultural reframing to question the modern monarchy’s balance between duty and private life. It suggests a becoming tension: public duties demand presence and visibility, while private life and personal health push against a relentless public gaze. The column implies that how William and Kate navigate this tension will shape perceptions of legitimacy and relevance for the monarchy in a changing Britain.

Beyond personal pacing, the piece points to a strategic shift in royal positioning. By choosing Windsor over Buckingham Palace and emphasizing private space, the couple could redefine what royal service looks like for a 21st century crown. The risk is public fatigue if engagement levels stay low relative to predecessors; the reward is a royals brand seen as modern and balanced, not all duty and sacrifice. The balance narrative matters because the monarchy survives on trust, visibility, and a sense of duty that feels real to everyday people.

Highlights

The monarchy endures when it stays relevant, not when it hides from scrutiny.