William Accused of Having ‘Tantrums’ Behind ‘Closed Doors’ as Advisers Urge Him to Undergo ‘Anger Management’
Prince William will be king sooner rather than later, so it’s no wonder that people are very interested in what kind of person he is as they try to extrapolate what kind of king he will be. Royalty, in general, isn’t exactly known for being very down to earth, but William has been very open about wanting to modernize the monarchy. Does that mean he’s different than some of the out-of-touch royals we’ve seen?
Reportedly, no. According to royal author Christopher Andersen, William has quite the temper. In his new book, Kate! The Courage, Grace, and Power of the Woman Who Will be Queen , Andersen writes that the heir to the throne’s temper is bad enough that even his father has been alarmed at times. And not just that, there are concerns about whether his instincts could turn problematic once he becomes king.
Related: Here’s what each royal inherited from Queen Elizabeth
One insider said, “There is anxiety in some royal circles that William can become intensely emotional and reactive when frustrated. The monarchy depends heavily on diplomacy, patience and self-control, and people around him know those qualities will be tested even more once he is king.”
A palace aide added, “William is deeply passionate and protective, but that intensity can sometimes spill over into anger behind closed doors.”
The author also described William as someone “capable of great bellowing tantrums.” He stressed that the prince is generally respectful towards palace stuff and strangers, and tries not to raise his voice at his wife or kids, but he has done so during arguments with his father Charles.
A former staffer quoted in the book said, “when he gets frustrated, (William) does resort to shouting” at the king,” adding, “William has a huge, booming voice. Much louder than his father’s, so it’s not something you soon forget.”
The weight of responsibility is something William feels very keenly, according to the royal author. “William feels an enormous weight of responsibility and sometimes that pressure manifests itself emotionally. There have been moments where advisers felt he needed help managing stress and channeling his anger more constructively, and have advised that he should attend anger management therapy.”
It all tracks with the account of a confrontation with William detailed in Prince Harry’s memoir, Spare. In the book, Harry accused his brother of attacking him during an argument over Meghan Markle. According to Harry, William grabbed him by the collar and knocked him to the floor, where he was injured after he landed on a dog bowl.
According to Andersen, the temper runs in the family, as Charles also “has a Vesuvius temper.” The same writer had recounted before how Charles once tore a sink from a wall after losing a cufflink down a drain. Plus, who can forget when Charles was caught on camera in 2022 angrily reacting to a leaking pen during a signing ceremony.
“Can’t bear this bloody thing,” he said then. “Every stinking time.”
Is William better or worse? And will he figure out a way to control his temper? We’ll have to wait and see.
