PM’s marriage advice to William: Mind the mother-in-law
Prince William got a surprise when he asked British Prime Minister David Cameron for some advice ahead of his wedding to Kate Middleton on Friday.
England's future king was expecting some welcome guidance on dealing with the extra workload of public and diplomatic duties that he will be tasked with following this week's big occasion, but instead got a useful hint from father-of-four Cameron on the best way to sustain marital bliss.
"I gave him one standard bit of advice," Cameron told the BBC. "Make sure you don't get into an argument with your mother-in-law [Carole Middleton]. That is important. But I don't think he needs any advice from me."
William became close to Cameron, who won the right to be the UK's political leader by beating former Prime Minister Gordon Brown in last year's election, during England's ill-fated bid to host the 2018 soccer World Cup. William, Cameron and soccer star David Beckham became known as the Three Lions and it was hoped that their combined efforts could sway world soccer's powerful delegates, who eventually gave the tournament to Russia.
Even so, the politician and the prince have retained a tight bond ever since, which has served to solidify the relationship between the government and the royal family. Those links are now at the strongest point for more than a decade as former Prime Minister Tony Blair was not well-liked in royal circles and neither he nor Brown will be in attendance at Westminster Abbey on Friday.
Blair occasionally antagonized the royals with his public comments and the refusal of his wife Cherie to curtsy to the Queen, whereas Cameron has nothing but praise for the institution of the monarchy, and his pal William.
"[William] has a brilliant sense of humor and a good sense of fun," added Cameron. "He is not grand at all or anything like that. I expect it to be a pretty joyous day, a celebration and people taking the opportunity to have a lot of fun.
"William is a remarkable young man and he will make a wonderful king. He is great - balanced and poised. When I spent some time with him recently it was great to hear the excitement and enthusiasm of when someone is getting married. I could very much feel it."
Cameron could turn out to have an influential role on William's life and marriage. Whether English law should be changed to allow the royal couple's first born child to take the throne regardless of its gender is a live topic. Under current rules, if William and Kate produce a girl first, followed by a male son, it would be the boy who would have succession rights. A groundswell of opinion, though, believes that in modern times it would be proper for a principle of gender equality to be established, a move which Cameron is said to support despite its legal and historical complexity.
