Prince William and King Charles III's separate royal households "are now hives of competing agendas" and "are embracing very different approaches," according to a new book by Omid Scobie.
The author's biography, Finding Freedom, was the first major attempt to lay bare the details of the rift between the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and the wider royal family when it was published in 2020.
His latest work, Endgame, investigates whether the monarchy still has a future after the death of Queen Elizabeth II and during continued rivalry with the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
It focuses on a different palace rivalry, this time between Charles, as the new king, and William, described as the crown's "true next stage."
The Prince of Wales, according to the book, upstaged Charles' first birthday parade as king, a significant moment in his opening year on the throne.
"The tussle for the spotlight has only heightened since Charles became King, including the moment William chose to sit down for a rare interview with The Sunday Times scheduled for publication the day after King Charles' first Trooping the Colour parade, essentially wiping any coverage of the special moment off the front page," Scobie wrote.
"It's also why joint appearances or engagements have been few and far between during the King's first year on the throne," he wrote.
In the long-form interview, William said he wanted to end homelessness in Britain, a cause close to Princess Diana's heart, and described telling his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis that some people are not as fortunate as them.
"When we were in London, driving backwards and forwards, we regularly used to see people sitting outside supermarkets and we'd talk about it," William said. "I'd say to the children, 'Why are they there? What's going on?' I think it's in all our interests, it's the right thing to do, to expose the children, at the right stage, in the right dialogue, so they have an understanding.
"They [will] grow up knowing that actually, do you know what, some of us are very fortunate, some of us need a little bit of a helping hand, some of us need to do a bit more where we can to help others improve their lives."
A source told Scobie: "Though royal officials don't like to talk about it particularly after Charles' ascension, behind Palace walls, William represents the monarchy's true next stage."
"Charles is the bridge to get there," the author added.
There was also "friction" after Prince William's spokesman, Lee Thompson, made outspoken remarks about a racism scandal involving Queen Elizabeth II's former lady-in-waiting, Susan Hussey.
The statement denounced Hussey, also William's godmother, and said it was right that she should step back after repeatedly asking a Black charity boss where she was "really from" during a Buckingham Palace reception.
"This father-son relationship was beginning to bristle with tension and one-upmanship, so William's solo maneuverings around the Hussey trouble added force to the friction," Scobie wrote. "William's Kensington Palace, and King Charles's Buckingham Palace are now hives of competing agendas and different ideas about how to modernize.
"Behind closed doors, the King and the Prince of Wales are embracing very different approaches.
"For William, this isn't just about ego, claimed a source. Rather, it's because the institution itself has always put its weight behind him, giving the prince the confidence required to stand apart from his father.
"This was evident shortly before the Queen's passing. During June 2022's Platinum Jubilee concert, it was William who had the biggest moment during the televised event in addressing the public and promoting his own efforts on finding solutions to environmental issues.
"Charles merely followed up with a short speech dedicated to his mother and the introduction of a comedy sketch starring the late monarch and Paddington Bear. As a Palace aide later remarked, 'Nothing is ever a coincidence'."
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
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About the writer
Jack Royston is Newsweek's Chief Royal Correspondent based in London, U.K. He reports on the British royal family—including King Charles ... Read more
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