In a fleeting moment at the Bafta Awards on Sunday night, Prince William made a striking appearance, exuding charm in a velvet tuxedo alongside the ever-elegant Kate. The couple’s presence was a nod to the familiar charisma that has long endeared them to the public.

However, the spotlight soon shifted, as Prince William couldn’t resist drawing attention to himself. When questioned about his thoughts on the celebrated British film “Hamnet,” which explores the poignant loss of Shakespeare’s young son, William admitted he hadn’t watched it. He confessed it would be too emotionally taxing for him at the moment.

“I need to be in quite a calm state and I am not at the moment,” he elaborated, inadvertently setting the stage for the next day’s headlines to focus on his personal turmoil.

Unfortunately, this focus on William’s emotional state overshadowed the film’s remarkable achievements at the awards, including the triumph of Jessie Buckley, who clinched the Bafta for Best Actress. The narrative that should have celebrated artistic excellence was instead dominated by discussions about William’s feelings.

Adding fuel to the fire, reports emerged the following day via ‘palace sources’—with no denials since—that William harbors concerns about his father’s health, as the King battles cancer. This revelation appeared to serve as a diversion from the Prince’s awkward and self-centered remarks at the event.

In this context, it seems that Prince William might have been using the situation with his father’s health to deflect from the misjudged comments he made on the red carpet, a move that some viewed as unnecessarily self-serving.

For a brief moment at Monday night’s Baftas, we saw the return of the Prince William we knew and loved, handsome in a velvet tuxedo beside a resplendent Kate

I have no doubt William is deeply concerned about his father’s health. But some might feel he has a funny way of showing it. While Charles carried out 533 royal engagements, including gruelling visits to Canada, Italy and Poland despite still undergoing cancer treatment, his eldest son managed a paltry 202.

Where was William, 43, when the King, 77, needed him most to share the load of royal duties?

The answer is that, for the last part of the year, he was huddled away at his new ‘forever home’, Forest Lodge, buried deep in Windsor Great Park in 150 acres of private fenced-off land and surrounded by 24/7 security guards.

Following the arrest of Andrew, formerly known as Prince, over allegations of misconduct in public office in relation to his connections to the paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, many have speculated that this could be the end of the monarchy.

I am not one of those doomsayers. But I believe that for the monarchy to have a future, especially among Generation Z, who increasingly don’t see the point of a Royal Family, William needs to up his game, start appearing in public more and cut the whingeing.

I’m sorry, William, but your future subjects are not losing sleep worrying about your precious mental health.

While Charles carried out 533 royal engagements, including gruelling royal visits to Canada (pictured), Italy and Poland, despite undergoing cancer treatment, his eldest son managed a paltry 202

Unlike my generation, the young in this country do not supinely accept that the royals are above reproach. Gen Z’s mantra is ‘accountability’.

How does our reluctant future King square to them the fact that he has a private income of around £23million a year from the Duchy of Cornwall, which is worth £1billion and covers 130,000 acres across 23 counties? He automatically took ownership of the estate when Queen Elizabeth died – no death duties or inheritance taxes like the rest of us – and, unlike his father, he refuses to declare what taxes he actually pays.

When the day comes that William takes the throne, he will inherit the Duchy Of Lancaster, which generated a £27.4million profit last year. Meanwhile, the Sovereign Grant, which provides the royals with annual funding from the British Government – paid by taxpayers – stands at £132million.

While King Charles has proved himself to be a kind, compassionate, thoughtful and tirelessly hard-working royal, the same cannot be said of his eldest son.

I have a feeling the nearly 1million young people not working and on benefits, not able to get a job or on the housing ladder and dogged by university debts, will fail to be convinced that ‘workshy Wills’ provides good value for money.

So, your Royal Highness, let me tell you what you can do to impress this lost generation.

First, show you’re serious about cutting back the excess and slash some of the 500 royal employees. Strip the hangers-on Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice of their undeserved titles. Ensure the succession continues only with your children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, which will then be passed on to George’s children. And no one else.

Take away Harry and Meghan’s royal titles, including those of their children Archie and Lilibet – the Sussexes have not for years been working royals and just shamelessly profit off, and tarnish, the royal name.

And come clean like the rest of us and declare the amount of tax you pay on your millions.

Insiders say William is frustrated because the ‘Andrew problem’ is likely still to be ‘on his plate’ when he becomes King – and that he and Kate have been ‘itching’ to say something, but are restrained by the police investigation.

That hasn’t stopped many others – including King Charles – from making their feelings clear. The probe into Andrew may take months if not years to conclude. It’s time to take action now.

It’s a shame that William was too emotionally traumatised to watch Hamnet. If he had, this particular line may have resonated with him: ‘What is given may be taken away, at any time.’