The Prince of Wales will allow cameras to follow him in a new fly-on-the-wall series, it has been announced.
The heir to the throne has signed a deal with ITV to produce the documentary, which will feature as the launch of a homelessness initiative – with public appearances across the country.
The film gives audiences perhaps the most candid look yet into the lives of Prince William, 40, and his family.
It promises to portray William as a serious and hard-working royal, a far cry from the bombshell revelations of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s reality TV show.
Bosses at ITV are said to be hopeful of a ratings success this summer – following the Prince of Wales’ campaign – with the prospect of follow-up appointments.
The documentary may give audiences the most candid look yet into the lives of Prince William, 40, and his family (pictured with the Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, five)
It promises to portray William (pictured with wife Kate) as a serious and hard-working royal, a far cry from the bombshell revelations of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s reality TV show.
An insider praised the move as “pretty extraordinary.”
They added: ‘In general, access to senior royals is very limited and fully controlled, but William clearly wants to change that.
“He is eager to showcase his work, particularly on a project for the homeless, a subject very close to his mother’s heart, and to engage with the public on a new level.
“He knows only too well how important it is for the monarchy to develop a more modern relationship with the British people.”
The Princess of Wales gave a rare insight into her feelings about her late mother-in-law while speaking to royal fans in Wales.
The Princess of Wales normally keeps a discreet silence about her husband’s late mother, but speaking to well-wishers in Merthyr Tydfil yesterday, she made some moving comments.
When a royal fan asked her about wearing Diana’s engagement ring, she confirmed it was “the same ring,” adding that she didn’t have to have it resized to fit.
“And it was exactly the same size,” she said. ‘It’s very special. What an honor to wear it.
“But unfortunately I never met her.”
The Princess of Wales seemed happy to talk about what her ring meant to her and said it was an honor to wear it with royal fans at Merthyr Tydfil yesterday
She added that Diana would have been a “brilliant grandmother” and that the family “misses her every day.”
The comments came after the Prince and Princess of Wales hand-delivered pizza to mountain rescuers from the Little Dragon Pizza Van in the car park during a visit to Dowlais Rugby Club in Merthyr Tydfil.
The club is a popular place for the rescue team to socialize and relax when off duty.
Earlier in the day, William, Patron of Mountain Rescue England and Wales, and Kate had the opportunity to take part in training activities such as abseiling, medical support exercises and a search dog rescue demonstration.
A royal guard asked Kate if she remembered Diana, to which Kate replied, “Unfortunately I never met her.”
She then said that Diana would have been a “brilliant grandmother.”
When asked if she was missed, she said, “So much. The family misses her every day.’
A video of the exchange was made by Laura-Ann Barr, and posted on her Instagram page @alles.that is beautiful.
In 2010, Prince William presented the ring, which features a 12-carat oval Ceylon surrounded by 14 solitaire diamonds, to Kate for their engagement.
Kate got the ring – which used to belong to Princess Diana – when she got engaged to William in 2010
Princess Diana wears her engagement ring, which Kate Middleton, 41, now wears with pride
Kate and William met crowds while delivering pizza to mountain rescuers in Merthyr Tydfil
The 28-year-old prince sported the dazzling oval blue 18-carat sapphire and diamond ring when he popped the question while on vacation in Kenya.
When they later posed for photos at St James’ Palace, William said giving Kate the ring was his way of ensuring his late mother could be part of the occasion.
Speaking to the world’s press, he said: ‘It’s very special to me. It was my way of making sure my mom didn’t miss today and the excitement that we will spend the rest of our lives together.”
Diana, who passed away in 1997, chose the elegant cluster ring after she became engaged to Charles in 1981.
It was made by British jeweler Garrard and cost at the time £28,000.
The Prince and Princess of Wales today became the third generation of royalty to visit Aberfan, the small Welsh village that was hit by tragedy in 1966 when a landslide of coal debris engulfed a local school, killing 144 people. came to life, including 116 children.
Queen Elizabeth was criticized for waiting eight days before visiting the decimated mining village in the Welsh Valleys, which was recently dramatized in The Crown.
But survivors say they have a “special bond” with the royal family, with the late monarch making five visits to Aberfan during her reign and King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, visiting on the 50th anniversary of the disaster.
In the crowd was survivor Gareth Jones, 63, who crawled out of a window at Pantglas School when his classmates were buried alive by the 150,000 tons of rubbish in the worst mining disaster on record.
