According to a report from Radar Online, the 75-year-old Princess Royal believes that frequent public appearances and visible engagement with the public are essential to maintaining the monarchy’s connection with the people — a view that clashes with the Prince of Wales’ more modern, streamlined vision of royal life.
“Anne thinks being seen is crucial,” a royal insider told the outlet. “She’s never really understood William’s wish to scale back his engagements.”
The insider added that Anne views royal duty as an all-encompassing commitment. “In her view, the role is the role – you turn up and do it, whatever it takes,” they said.
While Anne has long been recognized for her tireless dedication — often ranking among the hardest-working royals each year — William has taken a different approach since stepping further into his role as heir to the throne. He is said to prefer focusing on a smaller number of causes where he believes he can make a meaningful, long-term impact.
“William wants to modernize the monarchy – make it more focused and less about ceremony,” a longtime royal watcher explained.
However, that shift toward a “part-time monarchy,” as some have described it, has reportedly stirred unease among senior members of the royal household. Some worry that fewer engagements could make the monarchy seem distant or disengaged from the public.
“There’s a delicate balance between being strategic and being invisible,” the royal watcher added. “If he isn’t seen enough, the royal family could lose its connection with the public.”
The discussion comes at a sensitive time for the royal family as it adapts to shifting public expectations, generational change, and ongoing health challenges faced by King Charles III and Princess Catherine.
Princess Anne, often called the monarchy’s “steady hand,” has been a strong proponent of tradition and public service. She has spent decades maintaining a full schedule of royal engagements, often more than 400 a year, embodying her mother Queen Elizabeth II’s belief that “being seen” is part of the monarch’s duty.
Prince William’s approach, however, suggests a shift toward a leaner, more modern monarchy — one that prioritizes targeted impact over volume. Whether this evolving philosophy will strengthen or strain the family’s public image remains to be seen, but insiders say the differing outlooks between William and Anne have sparked noticeable tension behind palace doors.