The three Brexiteers aren't right for a charm offensive tour of Europe – it's time for Prince William to step up

What use is having a royal family if not for times such as these?

(REUTERS)

No matter what British people may think of the royal family (and there are many who think very little of them), it’s undeniable that they’re seen as powerful British symbols by the rest of the world: to Americans, who have no monarch, and to Europeans, who mostly disposed of theirs, the House of Windsor represents majesty, authority and tradition that resonates and remains popular. Even Jonny Rotten has come round to viewing them fondly.

Prince William has come in for some criticism in recent weeks, not least from Julie Burchill in the Spectator and Piers Morgan on Good Morning Britain, for having an apparently work-shy attitude because he chose to partake in a “laddish” skiing holiday in Verbier, whilst the rest of the family attended Commonwealth Memorial Day. The tabloids have gone to great lengths to document “Wills’” debauched trip, featuring Australian models, dad-dancing and copious drinking, set against the solemn images of his nonagenarian grandparents. An oft-repeated fact was that the Duke of Cambridge had, at that point, only worked 13 official days this year.

Of course it doesn’t look great. It was unfortunate that His Grace chose that particular moment to toddle off to the Alps, and that he has taken on a lighter workload this year. He should be aware, by now, that people will always keep a beady eye trained on him, waiting for any opportunity to criticise.

Let us be clear, though: this is a man with a career in the armed forces behind him, notably as a search and rescue helicopter pilot, and who has a young family to look after. While certainly more fortunate than just about anyone else you could think of, a shirker he isn’t, and frankly, why should we begrudge him a short break now and then?

William is a national asset, and will remain so for the rest of his life. It’s odd to think of a person that way, but the entire royal family is exactly that. These people are tools to be utilised, and their usefulness was highlighted at the start of the week when more images emerged of the Duke and his wife, the Duchess of Cambridge, in France, at the start of what will no doubt become a gruelling charm offensive launched on the capitals of Europe as we head towards exiting the European Union. In Paris, William spoke of the “depth of friendship” between the two nations, and how Brexit wouldn’t change that. It was exactly the tone that needs to be repeated.

The likes of Liam Fox and Boris Johnson have proven tremendously divisive since the election. One of the key criticisms of Remainers is the inability of most to accept that we are leaving, but it’s not difficult to understand their frustrations when there are no figures in their corner during the negotiations. What is needed is someone British citizens of all political parties can unite behind, someone who isn’t bound by political loyalties. Who better than the young, cosmopolitan future head of state?

Now, William is no negotiator. He has no great legal background, nor is he elected. He will, in time, be the subject of a massive monarchical debate when Her Majesty the Queen eventually passes away. This will not be the most popular suggestion.

But what use is having a royal family if not for times such as these? The Queen can’t be expected to play any part in the negotiations, but the youthful prince is charming and popular, and as his jaunt to the continent shows, he’s not averse to dealing with Europeans (though perhaps visiting France or Austria next time, rather than Switzerland, would go down better).

The Queen has done well to maintain a neutral position throughout much of her reign when it comes to politics, but Brexit isn’t a party political issue; it affects the whole nation, and was voted for by people of all political stripes. William should play a prominent, central role now in our relations with other European nations: both as a demonstration of our good faith to Europe, and also in an effort to unify those who will one day be his people. Forgive him a holiday and a few days off work, but now put him in the thick of it, and give him a serious job to do.