Former Royal Employee Says Prince William Has Changed Since He Married Kate and Will Be a Different Kind of Monarch
Not many people know exactly what Prince William is like behind closed doors or how he’s changed over the years as he awaits his destiny to one day become Britain’s king. But Jack Stooks, who was King Charles’ senior gardener at the royal family’s Highgrove estate for more than two decades, does.
Following the Prince of Wales’ 44th birthday, Stooks spoke about what William was like growing up and how he’s changed since marrying the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton).
Speaking on behalf of Smooth Spins Casino, Stooks told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “William has definitely changed over the years. When I first started at Highgrove, I remember seeing him doing certain interviews and he was slightly more reserved. He’s a lot more natural when you see him being interviewed now — he’s so much more used to it than he was. He is definitely doing them a lot more, and they come more naturally. He’s definitely a lot more confident than he was.
“Since he married Kate, he’s got all these responsibilities, and he’s extremely busy. He’s trying to be seen as somebody who can be taken seriously. His actions are very much in line with what the king has taken on, especially with his roles in the environment and with wildlife. Following his father, he’s going to do a great job going forward.”
Stooks continued, “In public, Prince William is not afraid of showing his emotions. You see him jumping up and down and getting excited during football games. That is something we’ve always seen with William. I remember when they had the anniversary of Princess Diana’s death, and William and Harry were at Wembley. They were dancing around, and you saw the happy, jokey, dancey, fun side of William. That side we do sometimes see. At events where he’s genuinely happy, or at something like the Royal Variety Performance, you do see that side of him come out.”
On how William is preparing to become the next monarch, Stooks said, “I can imagine that he’s already spoken to many of the royals about his future position. With William, he’ll likely find royal events such as Trooping the Colour quite daunting. There is definitely pressure that comes with that.
“I think William is trying to streamline the role rather than do what his father does. He is definitely more shy, and some may feel he does not work as intensively as [King Charles] did when he was Prince of Wales. King Charles effectively turned the position into a full-time public mission, with a relentless schedule and appearing at a huge number of engagements.”
The former royal staffer added, “But William has chosen to focus on a smaller number of priorities. He remains active in the areas that he cares more about … Rather than accepting every opportunity, William is more selective, concentrating his efforts on a more focused set of causes and engagements. William appears slightly more family-oriented and takes time out of his work life to concentrate on his personal life.”
