Prince William Is Tired of "Too Much Talk," Says He Wants to Make This Major Change When He's King
The Prince of Wales is said to be "tough" and results-driven.


Like his father, King Charles, Prince William has spent his entire life planning for the day when he eventually takes the throne. With the Prince of Wales now in his forties and his 76-year-old father battling cancer, that future could potentially not be so distant—and now, a group of royal insiders has opened up to the Times about what William's kingship will look like.
Multiple people who have worked with the Prince of Wales revealed what he's really like behind the scenes, like William Hague, a former U.K. cabinet minister who helped create United for Wildlife with the prince. Prince William contacted Hague to start the organization because of his past work with the illegal wildlife trade, with United for Wildlife falling under the umbrella of the Royal Foundation.
"He’s not one for long meetings or going around the same thing again," Hague told the publication. "I’ve often heard him say, 'There’s been too much talk about that. We need to see some action.'" Hague continued that while the Prince of Wales "is friendly to deal with and personable," someone "really wouldn’t want to go and tell him, 'We’ve got absolutely nowhere in stopping elephant ivory being sold.'
"He wants to know that you’re getting results," Hague added, calling the prince "affable" but "tough."
The Prince of Wales, seen at a March 2025 Duchy of Cornwall event, wants more action and less talk when he's King.
Prince Wiliam is said to be a "tough" but "affable" boss.
According to the Times, Prince William wants to focus more on "projects not patronages," working on causes that can deliver real change versus "ribbon-cutting representation."
While speaking to journalists in South Africa last fall, the Prince of Wales made similar comments, stating, "I can only describe what I’m trying to do and that’s trying to do it differently and I’m trying to do it for my generation. I’m doing it with maybe a smaller r in the royal, if you like, that’s maybe a better way of saying it."
King William is certain to take a slightly less-formal approach than monarchs in the past while trying to remain an involved dad to Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9 and Prince Louis, 7. "He’ll be asking, if [the children] are still young when I take on the big job, how do I maintain that privacy?" one source said, adding William and Kate likely "won't move" to Buckingham Palace.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
However, the public shouldn't expect William and Kate to turn the Royal Family upside down. “They’re pretty conservative about this stuff,” said former palace aide Jason Knauf, who now serves as CEO of the prince's Earthshot Prize. "Compared with some of the advice that they’ve been given [and dismissed] over the years, it’s still pretty royal."

Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.
Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.
Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.
-
Annoyed By Your Overly Visible Nose Hairs? Here's What the Pros Do
Putting the best removal methods to the test.
-
Doja Cat Gives Celine's Triomphe Bag the Butter Yellow Treatment
Her style is taking a turn toward the demure.
-
No One Would Guess These H&M and Zara Finds Aren’t Designer
These under-the-radar finds look triple the price.
-
Royal Historian Predicts Prince William Will Plan His Coronation "In a Way People Won't Expect"
Royal experts weighed in on how the future King William might switch things up on his coronation day.
-
Prince William and Princess Kate Swapped a Luxury Hotel for a Low-Key Cottage During Romantic 14th Anniversary Trip
The couple opted for privacy while visiting Scotland's Isle of Mull.
-
All Kate Middleton Wanted Under Her Christmas Tree Was...a Chainsaw?
The Princess of Wales revealed her unusual gift during a visit to Scotland.
-
Kate Middleton Throws it Back to Her College Days in Ultra-Skinny Pants
The Princess of Wales revisited her time in Scotland on her 14th anniversary.
-
Former Royal Butler Says Prince William and Princess Kate's "First Priority" Is "Very Different" Than Queen Elizabeth's Was
The Prince and Princess of Wales are changing the modern monarchy.
-
Princess Kate Is "Allergic to Any PR Gimmicks" and Takes Inspiration From This Unexpected Royal as She Prepares to be Queen
"She’s hugely influential behind the scenes in hiring and decision-making," a royal source said.
-
Body Language Expert Details the Moment Prince William Showed Himself to Be the "Ideal" Future King at Pope Francis's Funeral
"It is probably the biggest compliment to William to say that he was close to invisible."
-
The One Thing That "Triggers" Prince William and Makes Him "Fly Off the Handle" When It Comes to Kate Middleton
"I had never seen her husband, Prince William, so angry," a royal expert explained.