He still may have a long wait ahead of him, but there isn’t a doubt in our minds that when the time comes, Prince William will make an incredible King of England. The Duke of Cambridge seems to possess innate qualities essential to being a seriously good monarch. No doubt, he’ll be more than ready when it’s his time to reign. After all, he’s been training for this his whole life. The prince is only just turning 39 on June 21, 2021, but he has the royal wisdom of a lifelong leader.
From making Buckingham Palace balcony appearances as a little kid to solemnly walking behind his mother’s coffin at her funeral, William is more than aware of how to present himself to the public. He also has a relatability that not all members of the royal family have, a sense of humor, and an air of warmth. Since getting married to Kate Middleton, and of course since becoming a father to Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, William has stepped it up even more when it comes to owning his royal role.
Here are 25 reasons he will make one of the best kings England’s ever had.
He's Great With Everyone
It doesn’t matter if the person is young or old or what walk of life they’re from, William is always able to make a connection. He probably learned that from his mother. Princess Diana was known for her ability to empathize with all kinds of people she met during her time as a royal. It’s in William’s genes.
He's Well-Rounded
There’s no denying it: William is pretty much comfortable doing anything. He can sit through an important royal dinner, pick up the kids from school, walk dogs while on a tour of Pakistan — you name it. It’s an important quality for a king to be able to adapt to all types of situations, and William thrives in those.
He's Compassionate
William has always been compassionate, thanks in large part to his mother. When he was around 12, Diana started taking William along on some of her more important charity ventures, like trips to a homeless shelter. So he learned at a young age about giving back and caring about others. He now uses that compassion in his royal work.
He Appreciates Other Cultures
Over the years, William has been exposed to a variety of places, people, and cultures. This started when he was just a baby and traveled with Prince Charles and Diana to Australia. As he’s grown up, he’s taken royal tours to places like Southeast Asia, Pakistan, Canada, New Zealand, and more. Knowing a lot about the rest of the world — especially the Commonwealth countries — is key for a king.
He's a Man of the People
Well, as much as a king can be a “man of the people.” William does lead a privileged life, but he’s much more modern and down-to-earth than royals of the past. He went to college, married a commoner, and sends his kids to a regular school. He’s the kind of king you can grab a beer with.
He's a Family Man
William isn’t just a man of the people, he’s also a family man. He is a doting father who is active in his kids’ lives, from playing with them in the backyard to dropping them off at school. Let’s be honest — those are always a good traits to have, regardless of job or position in life. Will’s got it in spades!
He Looks Good in a Suit
Essential to be king? No. But nice. After all, as king he will have to attend a lot of formal functions in fancy attire. More fun for all of us if he looks chic while carrying out his duties — especially since fashionista Kate is his wife. He can’t leave her hanging on the style front! He’s gotta match his game to hers.
He Can Also Rock a Tux
And then there are the royal events that will require something even more formal than a suit. Good thing William always looks super dapper in a tux. Again, a necessity? No. But it’s a nice perk for fans of the monarchy. Plus, when Kate is wearing her fanciest jewels and a tiara, the two will look so good together.
He's Got a Sense of Humor
One of our favorite things about William is his cheeky, sometimes self-deprecating British sense of humor. It’s another part of what makes him so relatable and modern. Charles sometimes tries to tell jokes, but it just isn’t the same. William seems to get his sense of humor from Diana.
He Has Experience
William has been doing the royal thing forever (literally his whole life), so he obviously knows a thing or two about being king. We love this photo of him and Prince Harry playing on a fire engine with Diana looking on. He probably had a vague idea at this point of what his future held, but my how he’s grown into the role.
He's Dignified
Royal and dignified. That’s our William. Look at him standing so stoically (and in a great suit) at his nephew Archie’s christening. No matter what drama may have been happening behind the scenes with him and Harry or Kate and Meghan Markle, he was able to show up and play his role as uncle and royal.
He's Affectionate
We’re sure that a King William would always be kind and caring to his staff and everyone around him. He likely learned compassion and care from his mother, as Diana was known for taking time to learn people’s names and would often spend time with the staff in a way more formal royals never did.
He's Personable
Sure, he’s from a stuffy (and rather formal) royal family, but he’s always been a pretty personable guy, that William. We’re sure that started with Diana, but it helps that William wasn’t homeschooled like many royals before him. He went to various boarding schools as a teen and also attended regular college, so he was more used to being around all types of people.
He Cares About Mental Health
William has been championing mental health for years now. His Royal Foundation work includes helping adults navigate their mental health at work, helping children deal with mental health at school, and helping erase the stigma around the topic. It’s one of his biggest passions and such an admirable one for England’s future king.
He's Got Serious Responsibilities
Even though his reign is a ways away, Queen Elizabeth already has given her eldest grandson serious responsibilities. In fact, in 2021, Queen Elizabeth gave William a shiny new title to help strengthen Britain’s ties with Scotland. William is now the Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
He's Comfortable With Public Speaking
Obviously, the Duke of Cambridge has no problem addressing large audiences. He’s been making important public speeches for years. The Queen often gives public addresses during the most difficult times her country faces, and as king, William is going to have to do the same. Good thing he’s had lots of practice.
He's Fun
Who could ever forget this great video of William rejoicing after his team won a big game? Obviously, he’s got a passionate and silly side, which should come in handy. You can’t be 100% serious all the time as a monarch. Letting loose is important, because it helps you de-stress from your big, important job.
He Has the Balcony Thing Down
William has been waving to fans on balconies for a long time. He even kissed Kate on the Buckingham Palace balcony on their wedding day, and he hangs out there for every Trooping the Colour. By the time he’s king, he won’t have a jitter left in him. Good thing he also doesn’t seem to have a fear of heights.
He Has His Rock
Make no mistake about it: Kate is definitely William’s rock. And having that person to rely on is a must for any great ruler. William has already opened up about the strength his wife provides him, so his reign as king will be even better with Kate as his queen consort.
He's Beloved by All
Just like his mother, William is beloved by pretty much anyone and everyone — from little babies and dogs to adults and elderly people. Now that makes for a good king. As ruler, William will have to appeal to all his citizens, and it helps that he’s already a favorite among the royal family’s fans.
He's Stepped Up After Harry Left
When Harry and Meghan left the monarchy, it shrunk the available working royal pool by a significant portion. That forced everyone to step up more to cover for Harry and Meghan, and William shouldered a lot of that burden. Even during lockdown, he never stopped working — carrying out tons of video engagements.
He Works Even When Sick
Rulers get no days off, not even when they’re ill. Good thing William is already super prepared for that kind of work pace, considering he kept working even after contracting a serious illness for a brief time in 2020. He never even let on that he wasn’t feeling well.
He's Already Doing the Prep Work
William still has to wait until after his father, Prince Charles, has been king, so he is still a ways off from ruling. But he’s already putting the work in now to start prepping for his reign. According to what a source told Us Weekly, “William is already thinking about the future of the monarchy and the changes he’ll make.”
He's Ready To Modernize
Every monarch has to stay with the changing times or risk losing the institution altogether. The Us Weekly source claimed that William understands that and is already thinking about the changes he’ll make as king. “While he respects protocol, he plans to modernize some aspects and is making it his mission to be more relatable than previous generations,” the insider said.
A modern change he’s already made? Putting himself and Kate on YouTube.
He's Focused on the Future
Not only is William preparing for his own reign, he’s looking even further down the line to his son, Prince George. William has reportedly already begun explaining George’s future responsibilities to him. “William talks to George about what being a royal means,” a source claimed to Us Weekly. “He does so in a very simple manner because he doesn’t want his son to feel overwhelmed at such a young age. He’ll explain things as if he’s reading from a children’s storybook. So it’s fun for George.”
Respecting the monarchy’s storied legacy while keeping it fun for George? Sounds like a great king-in-waiting.
