In The Crown season 6 part 2, Prince William transitions from rejecting his birthright and responsibilities to embracing them.
After Diana’s death, William gains immense popularity, especially among young girls. Prince William officially becomes a sensation, and what the press describes as Willsmania kicks off.
William has inherited his mother’s beauty, and the people’s love he receives resembles the support Diana had.
However, William isn’t anything like his mother. He hates the press, the crowd, and the noise. He is also reclusive when talking about his mother’s death, which worries the royal family.
However, by the end, William comes to understand the responsibilities he has as a future heir to the throne.
Reconciling with his father
Charles, as a father, makes efforts to have William talk about his mother’s death, as shutting those feelings away could have terrible consequences for him later in his life.
A conversation between the father and son results in William expressing that he blames Charles for his mother’s death.
William thinks Charles should never have let his mother go into the arms of Dodi Fayed, which led to her death.
William says that Charles drove his mother to the Fayeds by making her unhappy and falling for someone else.
William also believes that Charles hates the popularity that he is gaining and resents him.
It’s Philip who talks to William and explains to him that he is probably angry with his mother for leaving behind a legacy for him.
He can’t be angry with his mother, as he is grieving her and missing her terribly. Hence, he is taking it out on Charles.
Philip makes William understand that his father has already blamed himself for Diana’s death, and so has the royal family. However, none of them are at fault.
After hearing Philip’s point, William reconciles with his father and moves on.
He is not the only one
When William joins St. Andrews, he is taken by a girl named Catherine Middleton, also known as Kate.
However, he leaves a really bad impression on her when they first start connecting. A girl interrupts William, Kate, and his then-girlfriend, Lola.
William’s reaction to that interruption is filled with rage. William attempts to explain that Kate and Lola don’t know what it’s like to live with that kind of attention every day.
He is put in his place by Kate, who reminds him how girls are ogled, looked at, and judged every day. Kate gets into a relationship with another boy, which breaks William’s heart.
Kate’s mother, who has been trying to bring William and Kate together, tells Kate how desperately William needs a normal girl like her.
The fact that William is so depressed that he could be leaving St. Andrews encourages Kate to make a move and convince him to stay. The two later go on to date.
Accepting his responsibilities
As Queen Elizabeth’s golden jubilee nears, she thinks of asking Prince William to accompany her on the balcony.
Queen Elizabeth fears that she is not in touch with the people of her country and might meet no crowd or a crowd that’s booing her.
Maybe Prince William’s popularity will help her avoid any of that. However, after hearing William’s desire to live a normal life, she allows him to miss such events.
William spends the day with Kate’s family on the Queen’s golden jubilee. While watching the Queen’s speech, William feels the need to join her.
Hence, without giving it a second thought, William drives to join the Queen on the balcony with the rest of the royal family. He even waves at the crowd with his family.
Later, William becomes mature enough to understand that his father has found happiness in Camilla.
He accepts their marriage. He says that having their father happy is good for the family, as he is going to be the king someday.
Also Read: The Crown season 6 part 2 ending explained: Does Queen Elizabeth step down?