This week I have witnessed first hand the delicate handling of diplomacy as Prince William navigated presidential meetings and extended walkabouts with selfie taking youngsters

It’s not often a one thousand year old institution can have an effect on an ever changing world. Yet the emergence of Prince William as a global statesman and the resurgence of the King, given his full throttled return from his cancer, is certainly being talked about outside royal circles.

This week I have witnessed first hand the delicate handling of diplomacy as William navigated presidential meetings and extended walkabouts with selfie taking youngsters. The role of a royal has always been a balancing act, one which the King once said himself he would “not be so stupid” as to be so politically involved when he became King.

The Prince of Wales meeting Estonian troops at Tapa Camp ( 
Image:
PA)

But the reality has certainly not been so clear cut. With wars raging in Europe and the Middle East, soft power diplomacy is all the rage.

Whether it’s Sir Keir Starmer using the King to butter up US president Donald Trump or Charles using one of his country estates to have the Ukrainian leader over for tea, it is often the deals done away from the glare of the spotlight that can achieve the most.

Prince William’s visit to the Nato frontline in Estonia also served a dual purpose in supporting our troops stationed overseas but also sending a clear message that Britain is engaged with its allies amid the threat from Putin’s Russia.

William takes part in a game of pool ( 
Image:
Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)
Sure, the pictures of William in army fatigues and riding around in a tank are good PR for Kensington Palace and the British government, but they will be noticed on the global stage.

It is no surprise that the Estonian president used his audience with the prince to issue a direct appeal to the UK to not withdraw troops from the country in favour of a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine.

William and indeed the King are not mere pawns in an ever fraught political game, but instead partners in shaping global policy.

What may have been unthinkable for previous generations is now the norm and in a world full of firebrands such as Trump and Putin, perhaps we should be thankful times have changed.