Prince William’s supportive attitude toward Kate Middleton’s fame during a 2012 Cambridge trip highlights a shift in royal dynamics. This behavior stands in contrast to claims that King Charles reented the immense popularity of Princess Diana during the 1980s.
William's 'it's all you' remark at the 2012 Cambridge visit
On November 28, 2012, during their first official visit to Cambridge as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William and Kate Middleton appeared on the balcony of The Guildhall. As the crowd erupted in cheers for Kate Middleton, who was wearing a pale pink coat dress and was pregnant with Prince George, Prince William was seen smiling and telling his wife, "it's all you."
According to the report, this private exchange suggests that Prince William is genuinely delighted by the public's affection for his wife. Rather than feeling eclipsed, the future King acknowledged that Kate Middleton was the primary reason for the crowd's adulation, marking a moment of emotional synegy between the couple.
The 1983 Australia and New Zealand tour friction
This modern dynamic differs sharply from the tensions reported during the early marriage of King Charles and Princess Diana. In his new book, Swan Song, Earl Spencer claims that King Charles was "extremely jealous of Diana's star power," particularly during a 1983 tour of Australia and New Zealand.
As the report notes, Earl Spencer suggests that while most spouses would view such popularity as an asset to their brand, the then-Prince of Wales felt riled by the Australian crowd's reaction to the 21-year-old Princess Diana. The book alleges that Princess Diana craved the approval of King Charles, only to be met with a perplexing sense of envy from her husband.
The 'We want Princess Di!' chants during the 1981 Wales tour
The pattern of Princess Diana overshadowing King Charles began early in their relationship. During their first joint royal tour of Wales in October 1981, the public's fascination with the new Princess was immediate and overwhelming. While visiting maternity units and communities struggling with high unemplyoment, crowds were heard chaanting, "We want Princess Di!"
The disparity in their public reception was so evident that King Charles reportedly admitted to the adoring fans that his wife was the person they had actually come to see. This dynamic was later dramatized in the series The Crown, which depicted a fictionalized version of the 1983 tour where the character of Charles shouts that the tour was supposed to be about him.
Earl Spencer's 'Swan Song' and the Palace's rebuttal
The claims made in Swan Song have sparked a significant conflict between Earl Spencer and Buckingham Palace. The report mentions that Earl Spencer alleged King Charles once remarked, "we'll forget Diana soon enough," a claim the Palace has strongly contested.
Buckingham Palace responded with an extraordinary statement, suggesting that Earl Spencer's reasoning is "clouded" by fraternal grief. The Palace argued that the pain of losing a sibling can distort memory and judgment even decades later. This leaves a critical open question: is Earl Spencer's account a factual record of royal resentment, or is it a narrative shaped by long-term grief and a fractured relationship with the monarchy?
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