Prince William's major shift in royal tactics the late Queen would have loved
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With his dashing beard, relaxed open-neck shirts and crisp white trainers, the Prince of Wales is the epitome of a thoroughly modern royal. And while he has always worked hard to carve his own path by supporting a handful of causes which are deeply important to him, rather than hundreds of different charities, it is clear that the prince has truly come into his own recently.
This approach also extends into the touch of informality he brings to his public appearances, whether it is answering the phone in a restaurant, shocking punters by serving burgers in a van or buying a round of drinks at a Wetherspoons pub for a group of Aston Villa supporters.
It's a tactic which continues to see Prince William ranked as one of the most popular - and relatable - members of the Royal Family and something which former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond believes is the key to his ongoing success. "For a while now, William has been putting into action the way that he intends to do the job," Jennie told The Mirror. "And that, as he now made clear, is royal with a small r. You could say that the small 'r' also stands for relatable, because that is what he is showing himself to be.
"I think he gets quite a kick out of surprising people – by taking calls in a restaurant, serving people from burger stalls or dropping into a pub to buy a round of drinks. I think William finds it refreshing to be able to interact without all the fuss that generally goes with a royal visit. And I’m sure he also realises that in PR terms, it is extremely effective.".
