Royals

Prince William is ‘relaxing’ Royal rules for relatability

Prince William wants to make amends to formality when he becomes King

Published June 11, 2026

Prince William is seemingly snubbing protocol as he is set to become the next King.

The Prince of Wales, who is an avid football fan, watches the sport like normal audience as opposed to King Charles who preferred special royal watch boxes.

Advertisement

Speaking to OLBG, former Royal butler Grant Harrold, says: “When I was there, there were strict protocols we were given if we went into a royal box or an area with the royals, of how you could behave, what you could wear, what you could say, what you could do,” the former butler says. “

“The fact that he is acting like any other football fan, which we would have never seen his grandmother or grandfather do, or even his father, shows how he is relaxing things and a sign of things to come,” he adds.

Harrold says that for “normal fan” Prince William, “protocol goes out the window.”

Eleen Bukhari
Eleen Bukhari is a London-based journalist and MSc graduate from Brunel University with over five years of experience. Specialising in the British Royal Family and global entertainment, she provides expert analysis of monarchy traditions, celebrity culture, and the evolving media narratives surrounding the world’s most high-profile figures.