Breaking the Queen's rule: Prince William ditches royal protocol, delights fans with selfies

UK Prince William has taken a step toward modernising the British monarchy by dropping the "no selfies" rule once set by his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II .

The Prince of Wales is making gradual changes to the traditional royal protocols to better fit the modern world.

The 42-year-old heir to the throne has consistently shown his contemporary approach to royal duties, recently demonstrated by abolishing his grandmother's strict photography rule, which King Charles had previously upheld.

#PrinceOfWales #PrinceWilliam On the streets Greeting the Public doing selfies with them Shaking hands giving hugs , Little ones running up to him. He posed and many filmed him, Future King does not have 20 guards with him. pic.twitter.com/CcBvMID1FO

— Robin Lynn King - Team Wales every Day (@RobinLynnKing2) April 28, 2025

According to the Express' royal editor Emily Ferguson, reflecting on his recent two-day visit to Estonia, she said, "William appears to be taking a new approach to public engagements."

"On the first day of his trip, he fully embraced the crowds and appeared to revel in the dozens of requests for selfies, happily taking people's phones to take the snap himself," Emily added.

The outlet observed that the Prince of Wales has altered his approach towards public interactions. "The prince always used to spend time greeting well-wishers but never with the same enthusiasm as his father," she said.

"But that's changed in recent months, William is spending longer and longer on walkabouts and is more than happy to pose for endless pictures," she continued.

Great to be at Mentivity House in South London and to see how it provides a safe and inspiring space for young people.

As an organisation built on trust, listening, and a deep understanding of local needs, @mentivity is an outstanding example of what’s possible when those at… pic.twitter.com/HMS3LxitQZ

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) April 24, 2025

Furthermore, the father of three has reportedly modified international royal tours, favouring brief visits over extended stays.

The future king spent under two days in Estonia, participating in military exercises with British troops whilst wearing combat fatigues, before returning to Britain.

These condensed visits enable the royal family to engage with numerous countries efficiently.

Training alongside the Mercian Regiment in Estonia, honing vital skills for operations in extreme conditions. From field training to weapon systems operation, this deployment is key!

So brilliant to see the dedication and expertise of our troops in action. pic.twitter.com/bz82Gyku9N

— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 21, 2025

Reports from last year indicated William has also modernised internal communications procedures.
Alastair Martin, who served both King Charles and William at the Duchy of Cornwall, told the Sunday Times that the prince shared his mobile number, marking an "overnight adjustment."

"If you want me, just get me, just message me," Martin reported William saying, subsequently communicating via WhatsApp, according to the outlet.

Martin said, "That's how [William] works and he's very involved. There will be weekends when my WhatsApp messages will be in double figures and I will be very responsive."

"If something has gone well or badly, I will want to tell my boss and he’ll be straight back," he added.