A royal author says Prince William declined an order from King Charles III to represent the monarchy at Jimmy Carter’s January 2025 funeral in Washington, D.C.—a decision that would place family priorities ahead of duty. The claim adds fuel to an ongoing debat
On a day when the world marked the death of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, Prince Edward ended up carrying a visible slice of British royal duty.
Carter’s national service was held on January 9, 2025, in Washington, D.C., after Carter died at 100. The former commander-in-chief’s memorial brought together world leaders and dignitaries. and it was a moment where timing mattered—especially for King Charles III. who had been diagnosed with cancer nearly a year earlier and was still being treated for an undisclosed form of the disease at the time.
Now, a new claim is reigniting the question of who should have gone in Charles’s place—and why Prince William didn’t.
In an interview with Norman Baker. published June 21 in the Daily Mail. the royal author said the Prince of Wales declined a request from his father to represent the British monarchy at Carter’s funeral. Baker’s account paints the clash as stark: Charles ordered him to go. but William refused because it was Kate Middleton’s 43rd birthday.
Baker said William’s decision went against expectations that he would step in for his father. He also pointed out that Prince Edward, 14th in line to the throne, was dispatched instead.
“We might have expected William to represent the royals at events like the funeral for U.S. president Jimmy Carter, given his father’s health ruled out transatlantic travel,” Baker told the Mail.
“It is rumored that Charles ordered him to go, but he refused as it was [his wife] Kate [Middleton]’s 43rd birthday,” Baker said. “The nondescript Prince Edward, 14th in line to the throne, was dispatched instead.”
The episode lands inside a wider argument about how William balances royal responsibility with his family life.
For years. William and Kate have spoken about keeping their household as normal as possible for Prince George. 12. Princess Charlotte. 11. and Prince Louis. 8. The conversation intensified in 2024 when Kate revealed she. too. had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer and scaled back her public appearances while undergoing treatment. She publicly announced she was in remission days after the funeral.
Baker, however, pushed back on the idea that William can always place family first without consequence.
“William has stated firmly that his family must come first, and while that is laudable in some ways, is it really possible for the heir to the throne to absent himself from royal duties as he does?” Baker mused.
Supporters of the Prince of Wales argue that William’s commitment to Kate and their three children reflects a more modern monarchy. Critics argue that even for a future king, private life can’t always outweigh public responsibility.
The debate then turns, more sharply, to how much royal work William is actually doing.
Baker pointed to figures cited in a new report stating that Princess Anne and King Charles III have carried out more official engagements than Prince William during the first half of 2026. Baker said William, who is 44, has fewer engagements than other senior royals.
“If you are looking for a royal to cut a ribbon, you are unlikely to secure the attendance of Prince William,” Baker said.
He cited figures showing that from January 1 through June 15, William carried out 57 official engagements. In the same period, Charles attended 76 events and Princess Anne completed 100.
That discrepancy has prompted another question: if William isn’t showing up for as many visible engagements, is he doing less work—or working somewhere else?
Baker suggested it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s working less. only that his attention is going elsewhere—specifically to the Duchy of Cornwall. Since inheriting the Duchy of Cornwall. the vast property portfolio that provides income for the heir to the throne. Baker said William has taken a hands-on interest in its operations.
“And actually, is it even true?” Baker said of claims that William is simply prioritizing family life. “Since taking over the Duchy of Cornwall from Charles, William has found plenty of time to get into the micro-management of the Duchy.”
Baker said William has frequent contact with Duchy staff, with “phone calls, texts and WhatsApp messages” on an almost daily basis, “even bombarding them at weekends.”
He also questioned William’s priorities, arguing that one of William’s earliest moves was establishing “an investment committee to boost profits for the Duchy and therefore for himself.”
As Baker put it, “Work-shy William? Yes, when it comes to undertaking royal duties. But no when it comes to adding to his already bulging bank account.”
During the 2024-2025 fiscal year, William earned a distributable surplus of about $30.9 million from the Duchy, People reported.
Not everyone agrees William’s schedule is evidence of a shirked royal role.
Royal historian Ed Owens told The New York Times in May 2025 that while William “has sometimes been seen as work-shy,” the heir to the throne appears to be concentrating on bigger initiatives—projects tied to homelessness, mental health and environmental issues, alongside international appearances.
“We see him gravitating toward bigger, more media-friendly events,” Owens said. “He’s burnishing his reputation as a statesman.”
Taken together, Baker’s account of Carter’s funeral, the engagement numbers for early 2026, and his focus on Duchy management all point toward the same unsettled tension: whether William is reshaping the job around his life—or simply trading public appearances for influence behind the scenes.
Prince William King Charles III Jimmy Carter funeral Kate Middleton 43rd birthday Prince Edward royal engagements 2026 Duchy of Cornwall Norman Baker Ed Owens