Today, Prince William showed why one day he will be a great King.
The newly installed Prince of Wales provided a grieving nation the type of unity from his family of which the Queen would most certainly have approved.
After years of acrimony, even including awkward counter briefings as the Queen lay on her death bed this week, William invited his wayward brother Prince Harry and his royal-trashing wife Meghan to join him and his wife Kate to greet the mourners at Windsor.
The result was a surprise reunion of the warring Windsor’s formerly known as the Fab Four…
Of course, today’s public appearance doesn’t change the fundamentals.
Harry is still intending to release his autobiography, expected to include public criticism of the new King and Queen.
Meghan has still made a series of threats to tell all about the institution, following a series of mistruths in a number of interviews to publicise her commercial ventures.
The 'fab four' were spotted together in Windsor.
Image: GB News
BUT what today’s act of kindness by William shows is that the Royal Family under Charles the third will not engage in a tit-for-tat with the Sussexes.
That was clear the new monarch’s expression of love for Harry and Meghan in his first address as King last night.
After such an olive branch from Charles and William, the ball is now in the court of the Sussexes to show they will put the institution, the country, the Commonwealth and the memory of the Queen ahead of their personal vendettas.
I hope and pray they do the right thing.
Sadly, given their past behaviour, which cannot be easily forgotten, I have my doubts.
If yesterday was the day King Charles won over the public as he outlined welcome plans for an apolitical approach to his reign, today belonged to William.
In just 247 words released this afternoon, this truly modern royal showed why he will be an asset to his father.
I want to share them with you in full because they are worthy of that.
William wrote…
On Thursday, the world lost an extraordinary leader, whose commitment to the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth was absolute. So much will be said in the days ahead about the meaning of her historic reign.
Dan Wootton has heaped praise on the Prince of Wales.
Image: GB News
I, however, have lost a grandmother. And while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I have had the benefit of The Queen’s wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade.
My wife has had twenty years of her guidance and support. My three children have got to spend holidays with her and create memories that will last their whole lives.
She was by my side at my happiest moments. And she was by my side during the saddest days of my life.
I knew this day would come, but it will be some time before the reality of life without Grannie will truly feel real.
I thank her for the kindness she showed my family and me. And I thank her on behalf of my generation for providing an example of service and dignity in public life that was from a different age, but always relevant to us all.
My grandmother famously said that grief was the price we pay for love. All of the sadness we will feel in the coming weeks will be testament to the love we felt for our extraordinary Queen. I will honour her memory by supporting my father, The King, in every way I can.
Just beautiful.
While today’s joint appearance was a positive sign, I the same sort of public pledge to stand behind his father and the new Queen is now forthcoming from the Duke of Sussex.
At an extraordinary time of transition and tumult, anything less would be a betrayal of the British public.