Jason Knauf, the former communications secretary for the Prince and Princess of Wales, has unveiled a series of revelations about the royal couple in a newly aired documentary. The special episode of "60 Minutes Australia," which premiered on Sunday, delves into the intricacies of Prince William's relationship with his brother, Prince Harry, and how William is preparing for his future role as King. Knauf shared that William's preparations involve "private family conversations" and "learning by doing" rather than formal lessons.
Knauf also discussed a poignant moment involving William and Princess Kate, who chose to wait before publicly announcing the Princess's cancer diagnosis, demonstrating their preference for privacy in personal matters. Yet another memorable anecdote from the documentary highlights a sweet interaction between Prince George and former U.S. President Barack Obama at Kensington Palace in 2016. Prince George, dressed in white gingham pyjamas and a monogrammed dressing gown, charmingly shook hands with Obama, an encounter captured in an adorable photograph.
"It was slightly before his bedtime. They're like, 'Well, it'd be nice to have this memory of him saying hello to this historic president…"
Following this meeting, William and Kate hosted a dinner at Kensington Palace with Barack and Michelle Obama. This event exemplifies how the royal family intertwines personal family moments with their public duties.
Knauf revealed that William is committed to shaping his kingship uniquely.
"The thing I have heard from Prince William is you're going to do this in your own way. Every generation of the Royal Family has to reinvent the role for the generation that they serve." – Jason Knauf
Echoing this sentiment, Roya Nikkhah, Royal Editor for The Sunday Times, suggested that William and Kate will maintain their distinct approach even when they ascend to the throne.
Knauf's tenure with the royal couple from 2015 to 2021 allowed him to observe firsthand how they shared office spaces with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, navigating personal relationships alongside public duties. His insights reflect on the unique challenges faced by each generation of the Royal Family as they redefine their roles to serve contemporary society.
"Afterwards, we walked out into the courtyard at Kensington Palace and the Beast, the presidential limousine is there, and George is looking at this thing, like he has never seen anything like it. And you know that's when you could be a little bit more like, 'This is a weird job.' It's a really strange job to have." – Jason Knauf
