When Charles of England turned 40, he had already been the Prince of Wales for 30 years, and a few more as heir to the throne of the United Kingdom.
His son William turns 40 this Tuesday with a large part of the British convinced of seeing him as the future king, but with some uncertain years ahead -there may be many- that he must fill in with a useful paper for his own image and that of the Crown .
After a brief trial of shared popularity with his brother Enrique —Guillermo, Kate, Enrique and Meghan were baptized as the
Fab Four
, the Fabulous Four—, the couple's frightened United States forced the Duke of Cambridge to reinvent for himself, to his wife and three children a much less glamorous central role and more to the taste of the average British public.
William has had
lucky
to be, unlike his father, a man of action rather than reflection, and he has used daily discipline to forge an image —like that of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II— very much to the liking of the most convinced.
His temperamental outbursts, which he has, as could be seen when he decided to respond before the cameras to the accusations of racism made by his brother and Meghan Markle against members of the royal family — "We are not even remotely racist," he snapped at the cameras with an indignant face - have been markedly downgraded by the woman many consider the true guarantee of a peaceful future for the Windsors: the Duchess of Cambridge.
"The real hope for the monarchy is called Kate Middleton, who has an extraordinary will and an extremely astute sense for detecting what the public likes, and which I suspect Prince William does not possess to the same degree," he told EL PAÍS in a recent conversation with historian and former Supreme Court magistrate, Jonathan Sumption.
More information
William of England and Kate Middleton, a decade summarized in ten historical photos and a new one
The couple has built an image of stability and happiness in their own skin and in the role that corresponds to them, which has captivated all the British media without exception: serious and sensational.
His three children, Jorge, Carlota and Luis, managed to snatch much of the limelight from the rest of the royal family during the Platinum Jubilee ceremonies that celebrated the 70th anniversary of Elizabeth II's reign.
"Guillermo could have followed a path similar to that of his brother Enrique, who has gone so far as to admit that he needed therapy to treat his mental health problems," wrote
Evening Standard
journalist Robert Jobson, author of
William At 40: The Making of a Modern Monarch
(
Guillermo at 40: The Construction of a modern monarch
).
“However, he has managed to develop an inner personality of steel, and a very focused mind, with the support of a very balanced woman, whom he adores, and who he decided to follow in the same way.
Unlike his brother, he doesn't show his feelings as much.
On the contrary.
He is a man who is very protective of his privacy, and fully aware of what is expected of him, and the importance of the role he is assigned to,” says Jobson.
An ally of his father, Prince Charles, with whom he has forged a professional alliance in defense of the institution that has become father-son complicity, his pulse did not shake when it came to ostracizing his uncle Prince Andrew, an active toxic for the House of Windsor for his shady relations with the American millionaire and pedophile, Jeffrey Epstein.
And he has marked a clear distance with his brother Enrique and his wife Meghan, who verified firsthand the secondary role that corresponded to them when they arrived in London to participate in some of the Jubilee events.
The celebrations of the Platinum Jubilee in commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the reign of Elizabeth II (96 years old) began this Thursday in London with the Trooping The Colour, the massive military parade that celebrates the official birthday of the sovereign
One of the most anticipated images has been the family photo.
From left to right, Camilla of Cornwall, Charles of England, Elizabeth II, Kate Middleton, her three children, and William of England. HANNAH MCKAY (REUTERS)
The family photo, in full (or almost).
On this occasion, the balcony of Buckingham Palace has been less crowded than in past celebrations.
From left to right, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Richard and Birgitte;
the Dukes of Kent, Catherine and Edward;
Sir Timothy Lawrence and Princess Anne;
Camilla of Cornwall and Charles of England;
Queen Elizabeth II;
Kate Middleton, her three children (Luis, Carlota and Jorge) and William of England;
Sofia of Wessex, her children James and Luisa and her husband, Prince Edward. HANNAH MCKAY (REUTERS)
The celebrations for the 70 years of his reign, with its official acts and 16,000 street parties, give a respite to a country recently emerged from the pandemic, immersed in political turmoil and confused about its place in the world after Brexit.
In the picture, Prince Louis, son of William of England and Kate Middleton, along with his great-grandmother, the queen.
The 4-year-old boy covers his ears during the flight of the Royal Air Force fighters over Buckingham. DANIEL LEAL (AFP)
Children of the British royal family watch the parade from one of the windows of Buckingham Palace.
From left to right are the three children of William of England and Kate Middleton: Jorge, Luis and Carlota;
Along with them, Mia Tindall (daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall, granddaughter of Princess Anne).
Above them, in the background, is Beatrice of York, daughter of Andrew of England and also the queen's granddaughter.MATT DUNHAM (AFP)
Princess Anne has chosen to take part in the parade on horseback (she was an award-winning horsewoman in her youth).
Her brother Eduardo hers has done it in a carriage accompanied by his wife.
And Prince Charles (in the image), eternal heir to the British throne, in a car with his wife, Camilla of Cornwall. HENRY NICHOLLS (REUTERS)
After leaving Bukingham Palace by car, Prince Charles has mounted a horse to participate in the Horse Guards Parade.
The hand of the Prince of Wales is behind the decision to remove his brother, Prince Andrew, and his son, Prince Henry, from public duties.
The first, because of his murky relations with the millionaire American pederast, Jeffrey Epstein.
The second, for having tried, along with his wife Meghan Markle, to manage his own image as a member of royalty, outside the supervision of The Firm (The Company, as the tabloid newspapers call the royal family). DPA via Europa Press (EuropePress)
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall ride in a carriage during the 'Trooping the Colour' parade in central London. HENRY NICHOLLS (REUTERS)
The city of London is dedicated to the celebration of Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee, and this is reflected in some of its monuments and buildings.
In the image, a message celebrates the anniversary at the top of the BT tower. PAUL ELLIS (AFP)
Prince Edward, the youngest of the four children of the British monarch, with his wife, Sofia of Wessex, as they leave Buckingham Palace in a carriage. HENRY NICHOLLS (REUTERS)
Britain's Prince William, second in line to the throne, reviews 1,500 officers and 250 horses from the royal stables during the 'Trooping The Colour' military parade.AARON CHOWN (AFP)
After seeing three of her three children (Carlos, Ana and Eduardo) and Prince William, third in line to the British throne, in the parade, one of the most anticipated images of the day has arrived: Queen Elizabeth II smiling on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the 'Trooping the Color' parade, in the first of four days of celebration for its Platinum Jubilee. Jonathan Brady (AP)
Jorge, Luis and Carlota, children of William of England and Kate Middleton, during the parade.
This is the first time children have paraded in a 'Trooping the Colour'. PHIL NOBLE (REUTERS)
54% of Britons believe that the monarchy is good for their country.
Barely 13% think otherwise.
And one in four have no idea about it, resigned to a landscape that is seen as immovable and as English as Yorkshire pudding.
In the image, police officers detain several protesters who are trying to disrupt the parade.
JOHN SIBLEY (REUTERS)
The BBC has prepared exceptional coverage for the four days of the Jubilee, which will include the great religious ceremony on Friday at Westminster Abbey, the concert and show in honor of Elizabeth II on Saturday, and the thousands of street celebrations across the country from Sunday, which will finish off a glorious parade.
In her first exit to the balcony, the queen has done it accompanied by the Duke of Kent, her cousin.
For the occasion, Elizabeth II has worn the same blue suit that she wears in the official portrait released this Thursday to commemorate her Platinum Jubilee. Chris Jackson (AP)
Fifteen Royal Air Force planes have flown over Buckingham Palace, forming the number 70 in the London sky;
Elizabeth II's years as monarch. BEN STANSALL (AFP)
The celebrations will take place from Thursday to Sunday, but on Wednesday there were already people on The Mall, the great avenue that leads to Buckingham Palace, and some even decided to spend the night there.
The British have decided to give themselves a four-day truce to celebrate Elizabeth II, the only public figure in whom they recognize themselves, even from nostalgia, before returning to the political mud of recent months. TOM NICHOLSON (REUTERS)
Isabel II preserves a popularity far superior to that of the rest of the members of the British royal family.
76% of citizens have a positive view of her and her reign, according to the 'tracking' that the YouGov polling company has maintained for years.
What is relevant is that, according to that same survey, the monarch's popularity among the millennial generation (26 to 40 years old) is 65%.
Among the 'Baby Boomers' (55 to 75 years old), approval is 86%.
In the image, a moment of the parade of the Royal Guard during the 'Trooping the Colour'.
JEFF MITCHELL (AFP)
Thousands of people have flocked to The Mall to watch the parade, celebrate Elizabeth II's historic 70 years on the throne and watch the British royal family wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace. PAUL ELLIS (AFP)
What this Jubilee celebrates is the figure of Elizabeth II for her 70 years of reign, so the image of the queen, whether real or made of cardboard, like this one, is present throughout the United Kingdom.
And as usual in recent years, much more after the long pandemic, Elizabeth II will do everything possible to be seen at most events, although the growing "mobility problems" that Buckingham Palace has been warning of restrict your agenda. TOLGA AKMEN (EFE)
Thousands of people attend the 'Trooping Colour' in central London.
Buckingham Palace released an official message from the Queen on Wednesday night thanking her subjects "in the United Kingdom and throughout the Commonwealth" for their participation in the Jubilee, as well as the organizers of the festivities for their support. work.Dominic Lipinski (AP)
Supporters of the British royal family with flags of the 'Union Jack' in The Mall, in London.
Elizabeth II is the first British sovereign to commemorate so many years of her reign and, in fact, she is the second in history to reign longer.
She is only surpassed by the French King Louis XIV, who was on the throne for 72 years. HENRY NICHOLLS (REUTERS)
Masks, flags, t-shirts... nothing is enough to celebrate His Graceful Majesty. TOLGA AKMEN (EFE)
Elizabeth II, who closed her second 'annus horribilis' in 2021, with the death in April of her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh;
a pandemic that kept her confined to Windsor;
the headaches caused by her grandson Enrique and his wife;
and the scandal of the accusation of sexual abuse of her son, Prince Andrew;
she has faced 2022 with an intense agenda that serves to remind the British that she is still at the foot of the canyon. HENRY NICHOLLS (REUTERS)
The celebrations will last four days, with concerts, horse races and popular picnics.
There will even be a national contest to find a new pudding recipe, the so-called Jubilee Pudding, sponsored by the prestigious house of 'delicatessen', supplier for decades of the royal house, Fortnum & Mason. PHIL NOBLE (REUTERS)
The etiquette of the celebrations calls for formal dress, according to the caliber of the celebrations. JOHN SIBLEY (REUTERS)
People crowded London's The Mall from early in the morning.
On Sunday, the last day of festivities, there will be 16,000 street celebrations in honor of the only public figure who today arouses the consensus of the British: his queen.
EFE
Across the UK, Thursday and Friday have been declared public holidays, so children don't have school.
Many of them have been seen following the celebrations in London. HENRY NICHOLLS (REUTERS)
Members of the public fill The Mall before an airshow during the Trooping the Color parade in celebration of Britain's Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee, in London, Britain, June 2, 2022. POOL (REUTERS)
This combination of images shows (top) Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (second left), accompanied by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh (centre), Prince Charles (third left), Princess Anne (centre), The Queen Mother Elizabeth (third right) and Princess Margaret appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on her coronation day in London on June 2, 1953.
Pictured below, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (C) standing with, from left, Britain's Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Britain's Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, Britain's Prince Louis of Cambridge, Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Britain's Princess Charlotte of Cambridge, Britain's Prince George of Cambridge,
Guillermo maintained his public work responsibilities until he was 35 years old.
After serving as a rescue pilot in the Royal Air Force, he continued to fly ambulance helicopters in the East Anglia region until 2017. He has refused to extend his time and presence at public events of the British monarchy in minor events — cutting ribbons or uncovering plaques—, to focus on relevant issues and that—as his mother, Diana, dedicated to the fight against AIDS or anti-personnel mines, managed—capture the appreciation of citizens.
He helps her with the homeless, campaigns to treat and improve mental health or, like his father, the fight against climate change and environmental causes.
Their Earthshot Awards, which they endow each year with grants of more than 1,
Guillermo, at 40, has not immersed himself in the controversies and intellectual challenges that his father incurred at that age.
He has chosen the image of a familiar and simple man.
And the British seem to prefer that simplicity, the same that Elizabeth II has cultivated for seven decades.
If she is the most popular of the Windsor family consistently in the YouGov company polls, the second, well above the heir to the throne, is William of England.
If many citizens have finally made peace with Prince Charles, it has been because of the promise in sight that, already reached 40, supposes his son.
