Prince William has given his clearest indication to date of how he thinks the monarchy should work – by doing his duties with “a smaller R in the royal”.

The Prince of Wales spoke about how he is “trying to do it differently” as he prepared to leave Cape Town after his week-long South Africa tour, adding he thought there should be “more empathetic leadership around the world”.

Asked about whether he is consciously doing tours and royal engagements in a different way, William said: “I can only describe what I’m trying to do, and that’s trying to do it differently and I’m trying to do it for my generation.

“And to give you more of an understanding around it, I’m doing it with maybe a smaller R in the royal, if you like, that’s maybe a better way of saying it.”

Elaborating on what that meant to him, the 42-year-old said: “So it’s more about impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people.

“And I’m also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do. It helps impact people’s lives. And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.”

Speaking about his specific environmental and homelessness projects, as well as possibly his future role ahead, the first-in-line to the throne said: “So that’s what I’m trying to bring, that’s what Catherine is trying to bring as well.

“And I sit here right now doing Earthshot and doing all the projects I’m doing, like Homewards as well. And who knows what’s going to come next, but it all centres around those values of trying to help deliver change and make those lives better.”

A ‘brutal’ year

In the same interview, Prince William had spoken about how “brutal” the past year had been, with his wife and father diagnosed with cancer.

Asked if Kate may potentially be joining him for more engagements and visits, he hinted at more overseas travel.

“I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so, we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up”.

But when asked about the children joining them for more duties, he added: “Family-wise, you’ll have to wait a little bit longer because obviously they’re at school and I think that takes priority (over) everything else.”

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Prince William spoke at the end of his tour in South Africa to celebrate the fourth year of his annual Earthshot Prize.

On Saturday night, he was joined by the Princess of Wales as they arrived at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London.