LBC host Lewis Goodall took aim at Prince William’s portrayal as a “modern” royal, expressing his preference for a Republic by next Christmas. This discussion occurred on The News Agents podcast alongside Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel. The conversation delved into the monarchy’s future under King William and whether the UK should continue its royal tradition.

Jon Sopel proposed that Prince William’s reign could herald a notable transformation for the Royal Family, suggesting that we might witness a more streamlined and Scandinavian approach. He remarked, “I think it would become more Scandinavian and more streamlined as a monarchy,” while cautioning that the fate of the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall could be uncertain under King William’s rule.

“With William as king, the Royal Family would undergo significant changes. While the royal institution would endure, much of the pomp and circumstance might diminish,” Sopel explained. He noted that the vast estates, valued in the hundreds of millions, were amassed through a combination of marriage, inheritance, gifts, and more recent acquisitions.

However, Goodall voiced skepticism about the potential for Prince William to significantly shift the Royal Family’s societal role. He commented, “I’m not sure whether I buy the idea that the Prince and Princess of Wales are terribly modern. When they went on one of their African tours, the Prince and Princess of Wales were carried around by locals.”

He elaborated, “During their Caribbean tour, the scenes appeared quite colonial, with locals carrying them.” This perspective highlighted his doubts about the modernization narrative surrounding the royal couple.

Moving beyond William’s potential reign, Goodall also expressed concern for the couple’s eldest son, 12-year-old Prince George. He remarked: “I hope the lad gets away from that gilded prison sentence, to be perfectly honest. I think it’d be absolutely appalling for him, like it’s been for the rest of them.”

He then escalated his criticism further by openly calling for the abolition of the monarchy altogether.  “With a bit of luck, hopefully William won’t be King,” he said. “All I want for next Christmas is a republic.”