Prince William and Kate Middleton 'painted as lazy' for prioritizing family life over royal duties in 2023
LONDON, UK: Prince William and Kate Middleton are facing criticism for what some are labeling a "lazy" approach to royal engagements. The couple, both 41 years old, reportedly attended 172 and 123 engagements in 2023, respectively.
These numbers, however, pale in comparison to Princess Anne's remarkable attendance of 457 engagements in the same year, making her the hardest-working member of the British royal family.
Prince William and Kate Middleton face criticism for fewer engagements
In an exclusive interview with GB News, royal commentator Gareth Russell suggested that Prince William's prioritization of family life, reminiscent of his mother Princess Diana, is evident from his royal engagements.
Russell acknowledged the impact of Princess Diana on the monarchy and noted that William and Kate might not be as affected by criticism as other royals.
“This is where you very much see that William is Diana’s son,” Russell said. “Recently, there has almost been a perception that he is Charles’ son and Harry is Diana’s son. But you know Diana was immensely close with William.”
“This is the Diana impact on the monarchy, so I don’t imagine that William and Catherine are as wounded, as maybe other royals would have been by this level of press criticism.”
Nevertheless, Russell warned that the couple's reputation might be damaged if they do not focus on the crown's best interests.
“The danger for them is that even though this is almost certainly motivated by prioritizing their home life, it has enabled their critics to paint them as lazy,” he said. “That reputation can take quite a bit of time to shirk off at the moment.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton's 'star player' status and family prioritization
Despite being considered the "star players" of the royal family, royal commentator Gareth Russell warned that if the couple is not seen more often, they risk allowing critics to shape their narrative.
The couple, who met at the University of St Andrews and married in 2011, has three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. In November, Prince William mentioned that Kate couldn't join him for an awards ceremony as she was helping Prince George with his exams, emphasizing their commitment to family responsibilities.
