Prince William has stepped in for King Charles on many occasions over the past year, due to the King’s ongoing battle with cancer. But if we are to believe reports, the royal family – his aunt, Princess Anne, in particular – don’t think he’s taking on as many royal responsibilities as he could, especially in terms of one very key royal engagement.
On July 19th, the Sunday Times published a profile on Princess Anne – famously referred to as the hardest-working royal, and for good reason! – ahead of her 75th birthday on August 15th. And according to the profile, the Princess Royal is less than impressed that Prince of Wales doesn’t host as many investitures as he should, leaving her to do more of the work despite the event being right on his doorstep. Keep reading for more info…
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Princess Anne Is Reportedly 'Annoyed' Prince William Doesn't Host More Investitures
According to the Sunday Times' profile, several insiders have claimed that Princess Anne would like to see her nephew take on more "bread-and-butter" royal engagements, especially ones which are near his home at Adelaide Cottage.
"She's still doing most of the investitures [at Windsor] even though William lives there," an insider reportedly dished, adding: "It annoys her."
So, what exactly are investitures? The formal ceremonies involve working royals presenting medals and honors to people named in the New Year or Birthday Honors lists – think MBEs, OBEs, and knighthoods. They typically take place at Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle and are a major part of the royal family's public-facing work. Around 30 investitures are held each year, and hosting duties are usually shared among senior royals like King Charles, Princess Anne, and Prince William. While Prince William has done a handful, it's been suggested that Princess Anne carries the bulk of the load.
Internet Reactions
There have been mixed reactions to Princess Anne's views about her nephew. "I think Anne needs to realize that she has a lot more free time for commitments than her nephew," thought one person in the comment section of a People article.
"William is a young husband and very hands-on father. His wife just went through more than a year of chemo, and is still recovering. Give the guy some grace," they continued.
"So what else does she have to do with her life to EARN her lifestyle from the taxpayers?" asked a second, adding: "She needs to actually speak to her own brother who IS king & decides these things. William is doing the best he can with his wife's cancer treatment and raising small children, so she needs to get over herself."
"Yes, Princess Catherine had treatment, he did not. Millions of spouses manage to do their jobs while their SOs are having chemo or radiation," said one fan, in Princess Anne's defense.
"Princess Anne has a 3 hour round trip commute from Gatcombe Park to Windsor; Prince William literally lives there. And 3+ hours standing in heels is no joke for elderly feet. Himself could certainly step up a bit," agreed a second.
"Princess Anne has always been the hardest working royal. She truly embodies ‘duty and devotion.' No wonder Anne is annoyed – she's still carrying such a heavy load at 74, while William lives right there and could help," wrote a third, adding: "If William wants to be seen as ready for the throne, he should probably step up and share more of these bread-and-butter duties with Anne!"
