William and Catherine will prioritise family over long royal tours, says their official biographer

As the world watches and waits for the significant changes that could come when Prince William eventually succeeds his father — who is currently undergoing treatment for cancer — the couple's official biographer has offered a revealing glimpse into what a future reign might look like.

The comments came as his joint biography, William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, was released, and he spoke at length to The Mirror about the couple's values, priorities and vision for the institution they are set to lead.

The end of lengthy royal tours

One of the most notable shifts the biographer outlined concerns the future of extended overseas engagements. He was candid about the departure from the approach taken by previous monarchs.

"Gone are the days from Queen Elizabeth II's era — or even King Charles's — from doing tours lasting anything from three weeks to six months," he told the outlet.

He went on to explain the reasoning behind the couple's more restrained approach to international travel.

"William and Catherine firstly believe in their responsibility to their family, and that being away from them for extended periods does not benefit their wellbeing or the family unit," he added. "They are responsible for the next generation of senior royals and they feel they have to lead by example to get their family life right."

Quality over quantity on the world stage

Despite the reduced duration of royal tours, the biographer was keen to stress that the impact of William and Catherine's international work has not diminished as a result.

"They often talk of the scale and impact of their work, or foreign tours and visits, and that's what they've managed to achieve with shorter, more refined international tours and it seems to be working.

"It's not a formula they will abandon while the children are at school and rely on them. William's praise of Catherine recently during his trip to the Isles of Scilly, speaking of how proud he was of her in her return to royal duties, was not unexpected. They work in tandem a great deal, always asking each other advice and for support with each other's projects," he said.

A partnership built on mutual support

Towards the close of the conversation, the biographer also shed light on just how deeply intertwined William and Catherine's individual causes have become, describing the relationship between their respective passion projects as a genuine collaborative effort.

"It was Catherine who convinced William to pursue Earthshot when it was looking difficult to get it off the ground. Likewise with the Princess's early years work, it's a team effort," he said.