Kate Middleton and Prince William.Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty ImagesAsQueen Elizabethcelebrates her 70th year on the throne, senior members of the royal family are embarking on royal tours across the Commonwealth on behalf of the record-breaking monarch.WhilePrince CharlesandCamilla, Duchess of Cornwallset off on athree-day visit to Irelandthis week,Prince WilliamandKate Middletonare in the throes of an intenseeight-day tour of the Caribbeanto three countries that — for now — have the Queen as head of state.As “the Boss” of the family “Firm,“Queen Elizabethtasked William and Kate with the more high-profile tour for a poignant reason.Yes,Prince Charles, 73, will reign next alongside his wife, future Queen Consort Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, 74, but “because of the ages of all the participants, there must be a feeling that longterm, the future of the British monarchy is more about William and Kate—spiritually, not in terms of actual succession,” historian Sarah Gristwood, author ofElizabeth: Queen and Crown, says in the latest issue of PEOPLE.For more on Prince William and Kate Middleton, listen below to our daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.“The baton of the crown has to pass to Charles and Camilla, but there is a sense of a baton also being passed from the Queen to William and Kate. Charles and Camilla have a lot of life experience between them, and they’re not going to change. The future belongs with the Cambridges,” she adds.With that in mind, William and Kate’s Caribbean tour involves undertaking the formal work of senior royals, such as meeting the prime minister in each country, as well as achieving what one close source calls “areas of connection” with younger people.But their visit comes at a contentious time for the monarchy asanti-colonial protestserupted in Belize and Jamaica ahead of William and Kate’s arrival, and a movement to removeQueen Elizabethas head of state of Jamaica is gaining traction.During a meeting with Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, on Wednesday, Holness directly addressed his country’s intention tobreak away from the British monarchy, telling the couple: “We’re moving on and we intend to…fulfill our true ambitions and destiny to become an independent, developed and prosperous country.“For more on William and Kate’s Caribbean tour and the surrounding controversies, pick up this week’s issue ofPEOPLE, on newsstands FridayBack home, the Cambridges find themselves increasingly center stage as the only representatives of their generation. With the departure ofPrince HarryandMeghan Marklefrom the working family, and the discrediting of Prince Andrew, “senior royals are a bit thin on the ground at the moment,” says Gristwood. “Britain is never going to drop all its pomp and ceremony, and it was eventually going to be slimmer and economical. But it’s doubtful evenPrince Charleswanted it to lose weight so rapidly.“On their overseas tours, “both [William and Kate] display everything that the Queen stands for in terms of duty, of responsibility and dedication and service,” says a royal insider.But as the monarchy faces strong new headwinds, the question persists: Is that enough?
Kate Middleton and Prince William.Photo: Chris Jackson/Getty Images
AsQueen Elizabethcelebrates her 70th year on the throne, senior members of the royal family are embarking on royal tours across the Commonwealth on behalf of the record-breaking monarch.WhilePrince CharlesandCamilla, Duchess of Cornwallset off on athree-day visit to Irelandthis week,Prince WilliamandKate Middletonare in the throes of an intenseeight-day tour of the Caribbeanto three countries that — for now — have the Queen as head of state.As “the Boss” of the family “Firm,“Queen Elizabethtasked William and Kate with the more high-profile tour for a poignant reason.Yes,Prince Charles, 73, will reign next alongside his wife, future Queen Consort Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, 74, but “because of the ages of all the participants, there must be a feeling that longterm, the future of the British monarchy is more about William and Kate—spiritually, not in terms of actual succession,” historian Sarah Gristwood, author ofElizabeth: Queen and Crown, says in the latest issue of PEOPLE.For more on Prince William and Kate Middleton, listen below to our daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.“The baton of the crown has to pass to Charles and Camilla, but there is a sense of a baton also being passed from the Queen to William and Kate. Charles and Camilla have a lot of life experience between them, and they’re not going to change. The future belongs with the Cambridges,” she adds.With that in mind, William and Kate’s Caribbean tour involves undertaking the formal work of senior royals, such as meeting the prime minister in each country, as well as achieving what one close source calls “areas of connection” with younger people.But their visit comes at a contentious time for the monarchy asanti-colonial protestserupted in Belize and Jamaica ahead of William and Kate’s arrival, and a movement to removeQueen Elizabethas head of state of Jamaica is gaining traction.During a meeting with Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, on Wednesday, Holness directly addressed his country’s intention tobreak away from the British monarchy, telling the couple: “We’re moving on and we intend to…fulfill our true ambitions and destiny to become an independent, developed and prosperous country.“For more on William and Kate’s Caribbean tour and the surrounding controversies, pick up this week’s issue ofPEOPLE, on newsstands FridayBack home, the Cambridges find themselves increasingly center stage as the only representatives of their generation. With the departure ofPrince HarryandMeghan Marklefrom the working family, and the discrediting of Prince Andrew, “senior royals are a bit thin on the ground at the moment,” says Gristwood. “Britain is never going to drop all its pomp and ceremony, and it was eventually going to be slimmer and economical. But it’s doubtful evenPrince Charleswanted it to lose weight so rapidly.“On their overseas tours, “both [William and Kate] display everything that the Queen stands for in terms of duty, of responsibility and dedication and service,” says a royal insider.But as the monarchy faces strong new headwinds, the question persists: Is that enough?
AsQueen Elizabethcelebrates her 70th year on the throne, senior members of the royal family are embarking on royal tours across the Commonwealth on behalf of the record-breaking monarch.
WhilePrince CharlesandCamilla, Duchess of Cornwallset off on athree-day visit to Irelandthis week,Prince WilliamandKate Middletonare in the throes of an intenseeight-day tour of the Caribbeanto three countries that — for now — have the Queen as head of state.
As “the Boss” of the family “Firm,“Queen Elizabethtasked William and Kate with the more high-profile tour for a poignant reason.
Yes,Prince Charles, 73, will reign next alongside his wife, future Queen Consort Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, 74, but “because of the ages of all the participants, there must be a feeling that longterm, the future of the British monarchy is more about William and Kate—spiritually, not in terms of actual succession,” historian Sarah Gristwood, author ofElizabeth: Queen and Crown, says in the latest issue of PEOPLE.
For more on Prince William and Kate Middleton, listen below to our daily podcast on PEOPLE Every Day.
“The baton of the crown has to pass to Charles and Camilla, but there is a sense of a baton also being passed from the Queen to William and Kate. Charles and Camilla have a lot of life experience between them, and they’re not going to change. The future belongs with the Cambridges,” she adds.
With that in mind, William and Kate’s Caribbean tour involves undertaking the formal work of senior royals, such as meeting the prime minister in each country, as well as achieving what one close source calls “areas of connection” with younger people.
But their visit comes at a contentious time for the monarchy asanti-colonial protestserupted in Belize and Jamaica ahead of William and Kate’s arrival, and a movement to removeQueen Elizabethas head of state of Jamaica is gaining traction.
During a meeting with Jamaica’s Prime Minister, Andrew Holness, on Wednesday, Holness directly addressed his country’s intention tobreak away from the British monarchy, telling the couple: “We’re moving on and we intend to…fulfill our true ambitions and destiny to become an independent, developed and prosperous country.”
For more on William and Kate’s Caribbean tour and the surrounding controversies, pick up this week’s issue ofPEOPLE, on newsstands Friday
Back home, the Cambridges find themselves increasingly center stage as the only representatives of their generation. With the departure ofPrince HarryandMeghan Marklefrom the working family, and the discrediting of Prince Andrew, “senior royals are a bit thin on the ground at the moment,” says Gristwood. “Britain is never going to drop all its pomp and ceremony, and it was eventually going to be slimmer and economical. But it’s doubtful evenPrince Charleswanted it to lose weight so rapidly.”
On their overseas tours, “both [William and Kate] display everything that the Queen stands for in terms of duty, of responsibility and dedication and service,” says a royal insider.
But as the monarchy faces strong new headwinds, the question persists: Is that enough?
source: people.com
