The Prince and Princess of Wales attended the Baftas on Sunday night, maintaining their usual grace and elegance. Kate chose to wear a Gucci chiffon gown, a piece she originally showcased in 2019. The event felt like a nostalgic throwback to a time before the significant upheavals and challenges of recent years.

As president of Bafta, Prince William had a duty to attend, donning a classic bowtie, delivering speeches, and mingling with stars like Leonardo DiCaprio. His presence was particularly crucial, especially in a week marked by the arrest of his uncle, the former Duke of York, amidst serious allegations. Skipping the event might have sparked rumors or suspicions.

During the evening, William subtly referenced his current state, commenting on the film “Hamnet” by saying, “I need to be in quite a calm state and I am not at the moment. I will save it.”

This statement invites speculation. Why not simply praise the movie, which won Best British Film and saw Jessie Buckley honored as Best Actress, for its poignant portrayal of loss?

Meanwhile, Catherine shared a glimpse into their family life, mentioning how their children are beginning to show interest in films, which helps initiate important discussions with them.

In a week overshadowed by his uncle’s legal troubles, Prince William took to Radio 1 to candidly discuss his mental health experiences during his time as a search and rescue helicopter pilot, highlighting his openness and dedication to mental health awareness.

During the panel discussion, Prince William said he thought it was a ‘real national catastrophe’ that male suicide was not talked about enough. He reflected on his own feelings, saying: ‘I take a long time trying to understand my emotions… and I feel like that’s a really important process…. to check in with yourself’.

It was business as usual for the Prince and Princess of Wales at the Baftas on Sunday night

In the same week his uncle was carted off to a police station, our future king went on Radio 1 to talk about his own mental health

William’s own mental health hardly seems like the focus after a week in which the nation has been in uproar discussing what young women suffered at the hands of – allegedly – the Andrew formerly known as Prince.

But the bewildering blind spots and inability to read the room don’t end there. Yes, King Charles released a heartfelt, stern statement about his brother on Thursday, but it was consciously missing those all-important words: ‘my brother’. His next, inexplicable move was to turn up at … London Fashion Week, meeting designers he’d never heard of, watching clothes neither he nor anyone in his circle would ever wear.

Camilla, hours after her brother-in-law was arrested, was in Westminster listening to young music scholars, doubtless bored out of her skull.

Meanwhile, the Princess Royal visited a prison, of all places, on the day her brother had his starched collar felt. On Friday she nobly stopped off at a crisp factory in Sheffield.

On Saturday, while we were all reading, open-mouthed, essays in newspapers telling us this could be the end of the monarchy, Catherine turned up, smiling and giggling, to watch the England rugby team lose to Ireland at Twickenham.

What she and William should have been doing is putting their heads together to come up with a statement far better than the one released by their spokesperson last week which claimed their ‘thoughts remain focused on the victims’.

For William, as president of Bafta, it’s obligatory to turn up and read from an autocue

There is no time like the present for the King – but even more so William and Catherine – to prove their value

Waving at cameras in a designer gown and jewels no longer cuts the mustard, I’m afraid. These official rock-ups shouldn’t just be counted; they need to be judged on how effective and relevant they are. What changes are made as a consequence?

I was aghast, during President Trump’s state visit to the UK last year, that all Catherine could think to do with his wife Melania was to lead her onto a muddy field to patronise junior scouts who were aiming for their Go Wild badge. Once again, Kate was performing a diplomatic duty with all the global gravitas of the school run.

Maybe all she and the pampered William know is how to talk to children and navel gaze. But we are adults. We need not elliptical half statements but reassurance, facts, action.

I understand the couple have had a difficult 18 months. It’s natural that they want some privacy and even normality. But I forgive them less for not being blunt and open than I do Charles, who is of his mother’s era of ‘never complain, never explain’. Goodness, even the late Queen was more responsive and intuitive, stirring our spirits with a moving, televised address to the nation after Diana’s death, and during the Covid lockdown.

William was the same after Catherine bravely, eventually, talked about her cancer diagnosis: his only utterances seemed constipated. He found 2024 to be the ‘worst year’ of his life. On a TV travel show, he said it was the ‘hardest year I’ve ever had’. Again, all about him. Not Catherine, and certainly not us.

There is no time like the present for the King – but even more so William and Catherine – to prove their value. Their immense privileges cannot be bought by gurning at a gala before retreating to their mansions and palaces. We are tired of reading between the lines.