- EURASIAREVIEW.COM - A la une - 23/07/2024 23:06

Prince William As A Progressive – OpEd

By Kung Chan The significance of subjective opinions often depends on their source. For instance, Albert Einstein's insights on physics are invaluable, whereas a Hollywood star like George Clooney's views on the same subject might be dismissed. The subjective opinions under discussion here pertain to the British royal family and its future head, Prince William. When there was an attempted assassination of former U.S. President Trump, the British royal family did not immediately issue a statement, as they were preoccupied with watching the 2024 UEFA European Championship. After the England team unfortunately lost the match 2-1 to Spain, Prince William wrote on x that "this time it just wasn't meant to be". Additionally, the long-absent Kate Middleton made her first public appearance at the Wimbledon tennis tournament after recovering from illness. For the British, Trump, who had seen a bullet whizzed past him, and is someone who might become the future U.S. President, likely does not hold much significance. He does not belong to the establishment that the British royal family respects. Indeed, he is someone who causes them great annoyance. During the war in Gaza, Prince William issued a surprising statement, called for the "end to the fighting as soon as possible" and increased humanitarian aid to the local population. His statement immediately sparked debate in British society, focusing on whether Prince William has the right to engage in politics. It is noteworthy that his stance differed from that of the British government at the time. The Conservative government, which maintained friendly relations with Israel, generally understood Israel's reasons for military action in Gaza. However, Prince William clearly took a different stance, aligning himself with what he termed the "people's" perspective. Sources within the British royal family have explained Prince William's stance. They told the Daily Beast that the prince is likely to make such comments more frequently in the future. As the source puts it, " When he feels the need to say something, he will". Another source added that William would have been "less likely to make such an unambiguous statement if he were king", although it also states that King Charles had created a model whereby the heir to the throne could comment on "issues that mattered to them". Therefore, Prince William is expected to express the royal family's political views more often, and this could become a common new phenomenon in Britain. Professor Pauline Maclaran, from the Centre for the Study of Modern Monarchy, Royal Holloway, University of London, noted that "the monarchy has to be relevant and he wants to modernize it". As the heir to the throne, Prince William also needs to consider his reign with a longer-term perspective. Historian Sir Anthony Seldon added, "The next few years will see him thinking through what kind of monarch he wants to be and what kind of monarch the country will need to have in the mid-21st Century". One thing is understandable: perhaps Prince William hopes that his progressive attitude can encourage those who oppose monarchy to reconsider the value and role of the royal family from a different perspective. This viewpoint might be acceptable from Prince William's standpoint, but the question remains: is this realistic? Prince William aspires to engage in global politics, but one has to wonder in what form. Can he stand against governments around the world from the standpoint of global citizens? Obviously, it seems difficult for him to achieve such a degree. However, his strong political ambitions may still drive him to take certain political stances, such as frequently challenging traditional geopolitics, thereby constructing a role of "global statesman". Therefore, it can be foreseen that Prince William will be a nuanced figure within the British royal family in the future. His progressive attitude may even challenge the traditionally conservative nature of the British monarchy, placing it in an awkward position and potentially leading to more serious issues. Regarding the future of UK-U.S. relations, if the British appear indifferent, why should Americans be concerned? Perhaps Prince William could engage in diplomatic discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin to address the Ukraine issue and protect the UK's interests. Alternatively, Americans might consider engaging with another prince of the British royal family who has been residing in the U.S. rather than the UK.