Prince William might be preparing to break with centuries of royal tradition when he ascends the throne and the change could involve one of the monarchy’s most theatrical customs.
On a recent episode of the Pod Save the King podcast, royal experts discussed whether the future King would continue the time honoured ceremony involving velvet robes, ermine capes, and feathered hats all part of the historic Order of the Garter procession.
"They wear these incredible velvet and ermine robes and feathered caps. There's quite a lot of pomp and pageantry… It's quite a jolly day out!" said royal commentator Emily Andrews.
But when it comes to William’s personal taste? "I would say he’s less comfortable with that degree of pomp and pageantry."
Fellow royal expert Hannah Furness agreed, adding that the Prince of Wales is “instinctively savvy” about how the monarchy must evolve to resonate with modern audiences.
"He probably views these traditional ceremonies through the lens of, What does his generation think about it? What do the next generation think about it?" she explained.
Still, she acknowledged the weight of royal duty: "If you believe in the monarchy, these things are the heart of the monarchy."