THEIs Prince William the new Mr Darcy? Seeing him dive into the Hudson River in New York, complete with rubber boots, life jacket and baseball cap, advancing confidently through the cold waters to take part in an environmental project, the US media immediately compared him to the hero of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, immortalized by Colin Firth in a famous television version of BBC. AND American fans are delirious.
Prince William doesn’t need Kate
It took two days in New York – where he announced the finalists for his awards Earthshot dedicated to the environment – to revolutionize the public image of the Prince of Wales. The visit made him almost unrecognizable. Arrived alone, without Kate – in a move that had worried Buckingham Palace – immediately attracted general attention. And his team of collaborators wasted no time in creating “Diana style” photo opportunitieschoreographed precisely to highlight all the physical and character qualities of the prince.
In the USA, Prince William enjoys unprecedented popularity
The American fans immediately took to social media, admiring the “new version” of the prince, calling him “beautiful”, “sexy”, but at the same time appreciating his humility and his particularly captivating ways of doing things. Just like what happened to her mother Diana. And while the popularity of his brother Harry, who lives in the USA, is visibly declining, that of the heir to the throne of England is growing ever stronger.
William ready to dive into the waters of the Hudson, New York, 18 September 2023 (IPA)
Prince William, undisputed leader in the fight for the environment
Back in suit and tie, the prince met with UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and he stopped to chat with Bill Gates, Albert of Monaco and other leaders important, discussing the most urgent measures to fight climate change. And she took advantage of a free moment to also go for a run in Central Park.
William participated in a cleanup operation in the Hudson River, New York, 18 September 2023 (IPA)
The visit to the firefighters on September 11th
After revealing the 15 finalists for the awards Earthshot founded by him (the winners will be announced in Singapore in November), another important appointment for William: a visit to a fire station, located near the World Trade CentreWhere the prince paid his respects at a memorial dedicated to firefighters killed in the attack of September 11, 2001. And he didn’t bat an eyelid when he came across a mouse.
New York fans’ greeting to William, 19 September 2023 (IPA)
William, the new star of the Royals
Between one commitment and another in New York, William made the real starpausing with passers-by and tourists, posing for selfies amidst the enthusiastic screams of the fans, saying they wanted to return soon with his wife and children. AND he even joked with a group of Canadian women in their sixties, making fun of them for the noise they were making. “60 years? Let’s say 50 better” said the prince, winking at them.
There renaissance of Prince William
At 41 years old, William seemed to have lost the charm that, as a boy, had ensured him millions of fans all over the world. His incipient baldness and his simple but somewhat monotonous style of dressing seemed to have relegated him to the role of reliable but boring dad. Destined to always remain behind his wife Kate Middleton, Lady Diana’s true heir.
But the prince’s current transformation is no coincidence
Worried about his lack of sex appeal, actually Buckingham Palace has been working on William’s image for some time to impose the heir to the throne not only in his role as a future Royal leader but also in that of a global ambassador of great influence. But making him accessible and easy-going, always willing to join people and even get his hands dirty. And the prizes Earthshotdeliberately run without Kate this year, offered the ideal opportunity.
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