London: Prince William, who will embark on his first foreign tour next week on behalf of the Queen, is to tell Australia and New Zealand that he would be their king -- only if they want him, a British newspaper has claimed.
Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has vowed to remove the British monarch as his country's head of state. But the 27-year-old Prince would pledge to serve the two countries when the time comes, the 'News of the World' reported.
William, who has refused to become "shadow king", is very much determined to avoid a political row when he makes his first major speeches during his visits to Australia and New Zealand next week.
"Of course he will stress the Royal Family's role and desire to serve while the people still want them too.”
"He is working on the speeches he will make - one in each country. Neither will be overtly political but he will stress the importance of the historic links between them and his family," an insider was quoted as saying.
William had last week made it clear that he would not become "shadow king" and will not undermine father Prince Charles' role as heir to the throne. Instead, he had expressed his determination to spend the next couple of years developing his military career.
"Prince William will not be a 'shadow king' -- the possibility is not even being considered. Over the next few years, Prince William will be concentrating primarily on a military career while also slightly increasing his (charity) patronages and the other interests that he pursues," William's spokesman had said last week.
PTI
First Published: Sunday, January 10, 2010, 16:19