Prince William appeared to make a subtle dig at his brother, Prince Harry, while praising their father, King Charles, during a special speech at the King’s Coronation Concert. The Prince of Wales focused on the importance of “service” within the royal family, highlighting the core values of his roles.
In his speech, William commented“As grand as the celebrations are, at the heart of the pageantry is a simple message: service. My father’s first words upon entering Westminster Abbey yesterday were a promise of service. “It was a promise to continue serving.” His comments emphasized King Charles’ lifelong commitment to his royal duties and the notion of serving the public.
Many viewers perceived William’s words as a subtle jab at his younger brother, Harry. One observer noted: “Service to Harry. Do you hear that? “It’s not a free ride.” Another commented“SERVICE. Something Harry doesn’t understand. These reactions allude to the tension between the brothers after Harry’s departure from royal life.
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their roles as royals in 2020, Buckingham Palace issued a statement clarifying the implications. It said: “Following discussions with the Duke, the Queen has written confirming that by stepping away from the work of the Royal Family, it is not possible to continue with the responsibilities and duties that come with a life of public service.”
William’s focus on service in his speech underscored the traditional expectations of the royal family, in contrast to Harry’s decision to step away from those responsibilities. This apparent dig adds another layer to the ongoing public conversation about the brothers’ divergent paths in and out of the monarchy.