Prince William ‘followed Diana’s playbook’ with his down to earth New York trip – which showed he has an ‘open side’ and is ‘spontaneous’, experts tell PALACE CONFIDENTIAL

Prince William’s down-to-earth and candid trip to New York City this week revealed a glimpse of his late mother, Princess Diana – despite being “clumsy” and “cautious” at times, experts have told Palace Confidential.

Richard Kay, editor-in-chief of the Daily Mail, noted how the Prince of Wales’ willingness to get involved in activities including collecting oyster shells on the Hudson River showed the public that he has an “open side.”

Speaking to Daily Mail diary editor Richard Eden and host Jo Elvin, Kay commented on the ‘spontaneity’ of William’s itinerary during his trip to the United States.

In particular, he noted that the 41-year-old jogged through Central Park one morning, which he said was an act that was “straight out of Diana’s playbook.”

However, he noted that while the Prince of Wales may look comfortable and at ease during some engagements, he is “still learning”, meaning he can sometimes look less fluid (for example when meeting with world leaders).

‘One of the problems with William is that he is not a natural talent. He is a bit clumsy on his feet. He’s careful – he’s always been careful, as has Kate – and he’s trying to show that there’s a more open side to him, he can be a bit more spontaneous.”

Kay also noted the success of William’s trip to the United States, which he said might have been overshadowed if Princess Kate had joined him.

Speaking to his panellists, Kay said: ‘The fact is it becomes less of a fashion show (when Kate is there)… it’s more about him and what he wants to say.’

Elvin and Kay suggested that William would like to highlight his ambitions to combat climate change during the trip by meeting with seniors while in New York City.

Citing names such as Earthshot supporter Mike Bloomberg and Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general, Kay said William was keen to make an impression with “powerful figures”.

However, he added that the Prince of Wales was “much more comfortable when he met people like (Bill) Gates, who are more or less on board with his Earthshot project, and much more uncomfortable when he met presidents.”

During the meeting with Ecuador’s President Lasso Mendoza, William’s conversation with the world leader was “stilted,” Kay said.

‘On such occasions William does not have the flexibility of his father, who was so wonderful at such gatherings.

“But he’s learning, and he’s learning, and it’s been impressive.”

Eden also noted the differences between William and his father, King Charles, this time in how they approach their commitment to protecting the environment.

Although King Charles has always been a negative-style “gloomy prophet” when discussing climate change and environmental damage, he said the Prince of Wales has captured the “can do spirit” of the American people.

“That’s what the Earthshot Prize is all about,” Eden said.

‘Prince William, on the other hand, has always tried to be much more positive and it’s all about: ‘What can we do to make a difference?’

Elsewhere in the episode, the panelists discussed the King and Queen’s state visit to France this week, where they appeared to have a very close friendship with the Macrons.

They pointed to the difficult relationship King Charles has with the city of Paris, having traveled there in 1997 to collect the body of Princess Diana after she died in a car crash in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel.

However, during this visit, Kay said the public saw a “completely different Charles.”

He said: ‘You can see it in his body language. He feels much more comfortable in his role as King.’

He added that now that he is monarch, there is less risk of being “overshadowed” by his partner, such as during a trip to the city of Paris in 1988 when Princess Diana stole the spotlight “through no fault of her own.”