Prince William vows to be ‘royal with a small r’ as he reveals plans for his role in future of monarchy

PRINCE William last night revealed his future plans for his role in the monarchy — saying it will be “royal with a small r”.

The future King, 42, said he wanted to continue helping people while carrying out his duties “differently for my generation”.

In one of his most open and candid interviews, he claimed there was a shortage of “empathetic leaders” around the world.

The Prince of Wales also said wife Kate was focused on work with a positive impact.

It comes as he described 2024 as “probably the worst year of my life” as he dealt with the cancer struggles of his wife as well as father King Charles.

He outlined his plans in Cape Town, where he spent four days for his £50million Earthshot Prize rewarding environmental innovators.

The heir to the throne, who also set up a Homewards programme to end homelessness, said: “I can only describe what I’m trying to do, and that’s I’m trying to do it differently and I’m trying to do it for my generation.

“And to give you more of an understanding around it, I’m doing it with maybe a smaller ‘r’ in the royal, if you like. That’s maybe a better way of saying it.

“So it’s more about impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening and helping people.

“And I’m also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do. It helps impact people’s lives. And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.

“So that’s what I’m trying to bring. That’s what Catherine is trying to bring as well.

“And I sit here right now doing Earthshot and doing all the projects I’m doing, like Homewards as well. And who knows what’s going to come next, but it all centres around those values of trying to help deliver change and make those lives better.”

Aides said Wills and Kate would focus on a handful of credible causes soon after their protest-ridden Caribbean tour in 2022. Last

November, Wills said he wanted to go a step further than his family and bring change as a “social leader”.

Royal author Ingrid Seward said his revelations suggested the monarchy would be safe under his watch.

She said: “This shows how William, like his father, is thinking about the future of the Royal Family and how seriously he is taking it, particularly with everything else he’s had going on with Kate’s and his father’s illnesses.”

William has also recently been concentrating on the illegal wildlife trade while Kate, 42, has launched her Royal Foundation for Early Childhood.

Ms Seward went on: “His reference to Kate shows how important her role is. And the reference to empathy, well, that’s more of his mother Diana.

“While Charles is very much a traditionalist, William has always been a little different, just like his mum was.

“William is more forward-thinking, and he always was from when he was a child.

“Ken Wharfe, the boy’s former bodyguard, once said to me, ‘He thinks things through very carefully’.

“So the future of the monarchy will be safe in his hands.”