Prince William and late Queen had huge row over his ‘defiant act’

Queen Elizabeth II maintained close, affectionate relationships with all her grandchildren, who have consistently spoken of her with deep respect. After her passing, her eight grandchildren—Prince William, Prince Harry, Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice, James, and Lady Louise—came together to honor her memory, participating in a vigil around her coffin in Westminster Hall. Despite the warmth of her relationships with them, the Queen was not hesitant to express her displeasure when she felt they had overstepped boundaries.

One notable instance involved Prince William, who reportedly had a significant disagreement with the Queen. According to royal expert Robert Jobson’s recent book, *Catherine, The Princess of Wales*, there was a clash between Prince William and the Queen over his defiance of a specific instruction. Jobson, a seasoned journalist and author, recounts that the Queen had aligned with King Charles in advising Prince William against using his helicopter for family travel. However, William chose to disregard their guidance, leading to a heated confrontation.

Jobson’s book details that earlier this year, King Charles had raised concerns about the safety of Prince William’s helicopter travel, suggesting that it might not be prudent to fly his family around the country in this manner. This advice was reportedly also endorsed by the late Queen, who was known to have reservations about the safety of such flights. William, an experienced helicopter pilot with a background in Search and Rescue operations with the RAF and in the Air Ambulance Service, chose to fly his family from Kensington Palace to their home in Norfolk, a distance of 115 miles, against the Queen’s explicit request.

The Queen, who was haunted by the tragic 1967 crash involving the Captain of the Queen’s Flight (though no royals were on board), was particularly vocal about her concerns. She did not shy away from expressing her displeasure when Prince William ignored her directives. An aide recounted that the Queen was forthright in her criticism, demonstrating her strong feelings on the matter.

This episode highlights the complexity of royal dynamics, where personal affection does not preclude robust disagreements over issues of safety and protocol. Prince William’s decision to override the advice from both his father and grandmother underscores the tension that can arise between personal autonomy and familial expectations, even within the close-knit environment of the royal family.