Archive · 5 Aug 2026
William and Kate reportedly seek meaningful roles for younger royals
This story is about the family of the King of the United Kingdom.
Prince William and his wife Kate have three children.
The oldest, Prince George, will one day become King.
Their other two children, Charlotte and Louis, will not be King or Queen.
William and Kate reportedly want Charlotte and Louis to still have important jobs that help George.
A royal author called Simon Vigar says he believes William and Kate are talking about this, but he does not know for sure.
The idea comes from what happened to William's brother, Prince Harry.
Harry did not want only one job, to support William, and he left royal duties.
Harry wrote a book called Spare, and he said he worried one of William's children could feel like a 'spare' too.
Historians say the word 'spare' is just an old tradition used when a royal family has a second child.
Royal author Simon Vigar says Prince William and Princess Kate are reportedly discussing meaningful roles for Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, though he admitted having no direct knowledge.
The roles would let the younger children support future King Prince George without sacrificing personal independence.
Vigar cited Prince Harry's royal departure as a lesson, recalling he was told 'You're either in, or you're out' at the Sandringham Summit.
Harry has said his memoir Spare was partly written to protect his niece and nephews, fearing one of William's children could become another 'spare.'
Royal historians note the 'heir and spare' phrase is a longstanding aristocratic convention for succession planning, reflecting tradition rather than personal criticism.
- Who
- Prince William and Princess Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, and royal author Simon Vigar.
- What
- The royal couple reportedly want to create meaningful roles for Charlotte and Louis so they can support future King George while keeping personal independence, learning from Prince Harry's departure.
- When
- Not specified in the articles.
- Where
- Not specified; the articles reference the Sandringham Summit and coverage in Hello!.
- Why
- To avoid repeating the difficulties Prince Harry experienced and to make the monarchy more flexible for younger family members.
Modernisers
Traditionalists
Role for younger royals
Modernisers
Younger royals like Charlotte and Louis should get flexible, meaningful roles that support the heir while allowing independent lives, as Harry believed a 'third way' was possible.
Traditionalists
The monarchy demands a clear commitment; as the Sandringham Summit showed, members are told 'You're either in, or you're out,' and the hierarchy around the future King is fixed.
Meaning of 'heir and spare'
Modernisers
Harry says the label deeply shaped his upbringing and worries that one of William's children could become another 'spare.'
Traditionalists
Historians note the phrase is a longstanding aristocratic convention for succession planning, reflecting tradition rather than personal criticism.
- Main figures
- Prince William, Princess Kate, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis
- Reported by
- Royal author Simon Vigar, speaking to Hello!
- Core goal
- Meaningful roles for Charlotte and Louis that support George without sacrificing independence
- Key lesson cited
- Prince Harry's departure after being told 'You're either in, or you're out' at the Sandringham Summit
- Harry's memoir
- Spare, partly written to protect his niece and nephews
- Historical phrase
- 'Heir and spare,' reportedly said by King Charles to Princess Diana
- Historians' view
- The phrase reflects longstanding succession convention, not personal criticism