After nearly two months away from public life, Prince William returned to work in September.

His comeback coincided with Prince Harry’s highly publicized London trip on September 10, during which William managed four straight days of royal engagements—without ever meeting his brother.

Soon after, the state visit of US President Donald Trump kept the royal family busy. To close observers, this looked more than coincidental. Once Harry and Trump departed, William’s calendar cleared, leaving him with no scheduled appearances for the following two weeks.

Online Criticism Over His Schedule

A Reddit user posted a screenshot of William’s official engagements page on the royal website, noting, “When you search up William’s engagements for this week and the next, there is nothing there.” The comments section quickly filled with criticism.

One remarked, “The Princess Royal is doing multiple engagements a day. What a machine! Pity she wasn’t the eldest child.” Another added, “He only did a few because Harry was in town, period. He’s lazy and entitled and doesn’t care about his job, just the perks of the job.”

Sarcasm was common in the thread. “Give the guy a break! Didn’t he work four days when Harry was in England? Four days in a row is exhausting, and he will now need some time off,” wrote one user.

Another quipped, “He would’ve been back at work in December, but the children have their Christmas break, so Wills will be back in January 2026.” Someone else observed dryly: “Unless it’s church walks, tennis, or football. We won’t see him!”

Avoiding Harry—or Competing?

For many royal watchers, the real story was the timing. Harry’s visit had been on the calendar for months, and William’s sudden flurry of appearances, followed by a suspicious lull, fueled speculation that he was either determined to avoid his brother or trying to overshadow him.

The optics are troubling, especially with King Charles stepping back due to health issues. Expectations were high that William would take on more responsibility, but instead, his empty schedule has made the contrast sharper.

Palace Frustration Over Workload

Royal journalist Camilla Tominey has previously reported that Palace aides were frustrated with William and Kate Middleton’s “cautious” approach to public duties.

Even before Kate’s cancer diagnosis, insiders had referred to her as a “part-time royal,” while William was known to prioritize personal passions like the Earthshot Prize or football tournaments abroad over routine domestic engagements. “Courtiers are fuming,” Tominey noted at the time, describing the couple’s reluctance to expand their workload.

Princess Anne’s Relentless Commitment

In stark contrast, Princess Anne continues to serve as the backbone of the monarchy. She completed 474 engagements last year—more than any other royal. Reports even suggest she has stepped in to conduct investiture ceremonies at Windsor Castle, despite William living just a short drive away at Adelaide Cottage. As one Palace insider put it: “Anne’s commitment is beyond doubt. But she is human. The sense she’s covering for William’s reluctance is very real.”