A former royal butler has made a startling prediction about the future of the monarchy when Prince William eventually ascends the throne.
Grant Harrold, who served King Charles for seven years from 2004 to 2011, witnessed the inner workings of the royal household firsthand, observing countless changes and evolving traditions. Yet, he believes the most significant transformation is still to come.
In a recent interview ahead of the release of his tell-all memoir, The Royal Butler: My Remarkable Life in Royal Service, Harrold shared his insights into the next generation of the royal family.
He suggested that the Prince of Wales has a very different approach to royal life compared to his father and late grandmother.
“William has talked about ‘Royal’ starting with a lower ‘r’, as well as describing their new house as their ‘forever home’,” Harrold explained.
This hints at a shift in philosophy, one that emphasizes accessibility and modernity over the rigid formalities often associated with the monarchy.
Over the summer, it was announced that Prince William, Princess Catherine, and their three young children will move from their four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage home to the eight-bedroom Forest Lodge, also on the Windsor estate.
The couple will reportedly fund the move privately and pay market rent, signaling their intention to maintain independence from the traditional royal financial structures.
A move-in date has not been confirmed, but the family is expected to be settled by Christmas, and it’s believed they intend to remain at Forest Lodge long-term—even after William becomes king.
Based on these developments, Harrold predicted a seismic shift in the monarchy’s geographical focus. “I have a theory that the court is going to move to Windsor one day in the coming years.
I think it’ll become the hub of the monarchy once again. It was only during Queen Victoria’s rule that Buckingham Palace became the focal point,” he said.
Harrold also suggested Buckingham Palace could take a backseat, serving primarily for formal royal ceremonies and public tours, much like the Palace of Versailles in France.
A key factor behind this potential change is cost-consciousness, as the royal family is acutely aware of the UK’s growing cost-of-living crisis.
“We’ve seen William fronting campaigns surrounding homelessness,” Harrold noted. “It’s difficult to stand on the world’s stage saying, ‘I want to eradicate homelessness’, when you’ve got an eight-bedroom palace to live in. It doesn’t look good.”
If Harrold’s predictions come true, William’s reign may mark the beginning of a more modern, socially conscious monarchy—one that prioritizes practicality, public perception, and a return to Windsor as the true heart of royal life.
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