THE Prince and Princess of Wales will launch a massive charm offensive on a visit to the States this week to present the Earthshot Prize, said royal commentator Katie Nicholl.
She told GB News: “There is this rivalry at the heart of the brothers. But I think this is an interesting dynamic because you’ve got the Prince and Princess of Wales going over tomorrow to Boston.
“They’re flying out ahead of the award ceremony, the big pièce de résistance, what we’re being told, is William’s Super Bowl moment. It is going to take place during this prize giving ceremony on Friday, where he’s going to be giving five winners a million pounds each, huge prize money, as part of this initiative, which he hopes is going to very much be his legacy project.
“This is the first time they’ve gone to the States as the Prince and Princess of Wales and it also comes after a difficult period for William and Kate in America.
“The fallout from that Oprah interview really caused a cultural divide here, so they’re dealing with all of that, plus a couple of days later you’re going to have the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on the same coast receiving different kinds of award, the Ripple of Hope award for taking on institutional racism.
“Now I’ve spoken to the Palace and my understanding is that the absolute focus for William and Kate is going to be on Boston. They’re going out early so that they can meet some people and get to know some people in the community and they don’t want any distractions.
“Well you can absolutely understand why not but there is a big distraction and that’s the elephant in the room.”
Speaking to GB News, she continued: “In America, it’s a different game with the media. There’s every chance someone might call out a question and everyone knows that Harry and Megan have set themselves up as the alternative royal court.
“I’d be very surprised if he wasn’t asked a question about his brother. But I think they are going to do everything they can to keep that focus on the Earthshot on their visit and not let anything detract.
“In the wake of Oprah, I would say this sympathy was for Harry and Megan, who were seen very much as victims of the institution and there was a bit of a tide turning against William and Kate. We’ve never seen that before. So I think it’s going to be very interesting to see the reception.”
“I think this is going to be a massive charm offensive. I suspect that America will fall head over heels in love with William and Kate, the new Prince and Princess of Wales. I think it will be a huge success.
“And I think when you think about the last tour they did to the Caribbean, which wasn’t the success we expected it to be, and although this isn’t quite a royal tour, it is still an important visit.
“I think you’re gonna see things done quite differently on this tour too. It’s going to feel fresh and modern, and I think they’re going to engage in a way that you haven’t seen them do.”
“They’re representing the royal family. They’re out there as global ambassadors, and particularly for the Prince of Wales, he wants this to be his legacy project.
“This is really important to him. He doesn’t want family tittle tattle and gossip and a family rift overshadowing any of this.”
Commenting on reports that Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, has been invited to Sandringham at Christmas, she said: “We know the King is going to be hosting the family Christmas, the Sussexes will not be there but I think the fact that Sarah has been invited is significant because family is clearly very important to the Prince of Wales.
“He’s put his foot down when it comes to Andrew coming back into the royal fold, there’s not going to be any public engagements but he’s going to be allowed at the Christmas table with his ex-wife and I think that shows the emotional side of the King.
“You’ve got that emotional side, the importance of family, but then the importance of duty…that’s a softening and a thawing of relations because of course, while the Duke of Edinburgh was still alive, she was persona non grata.”
