Prince William, who is establishing his position as a global leader with his environment-focussed platform, was befuddled by King Charles’s unexpected move, despite his support.
The monarch and his heir both share a passion for the environment and protecting the planet. As William’s Earthshot Prize took place in Brazil this year, the Prince of Wales also delivered a powerful keynote speech at COP30 at the behest of his father.
Hence, it came as a surprise when the King decided to knight Sir David Beckham at the same time as his Brazil trip.
Even though the investiture ceremony had been planned long in advance, it still stung as William found it to be a snub towards him and his efforts for Earthshot, according to a close pal of the future king.
William was left “hurt and angry” that “of all weeks” Charles decided that the much-awaited honour for UK’s most beloved footballer will be granted amid his Brazil visit, the source told The Royalist.
“This was the one week he needed the family to be pulling for him. Instead, it felt like they were pulling against him,” they said.
A former courtier maintained that William was “gracious” as he paid tribute to his father’s work in his speech and the investiture was a “slap in the face”. They said that David has waited 15 years, a little more wouldn’t have hurt.
Meanwhile the King’s sources dismiss that it was a snub to his son. They said that Charles is “immensely proud of his son’s work,” and all of this was scheduled in advance without malice.
The sources noted that there is a “delicate” dynamic between the father and son and neither of them want to cause tensions.
However, William felt that his trip could have been the “royal story of the week” but he was overshadowed not just by Beckham but also Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
