Frustrated at the media coverage of walkabouts, heir to the throne’s idea to shake things up is a gamble he is willing to take
Not since Queen Elizabeth II invented the walkabout in 1970 has there been a major change to the way royal visits are conducted.
The format of official engagements has become so staid that reports of them often focus on fashion, gossip or the body language of the principals involved. The Prince of Wales, like other members of his family, is often frustrated at the coverage they get.
Having seen the way his mother Diana, Princess of Wales could generate worldwide publicity about Aids, landmines or leprosy simply through her presence, the Prince knows better than most just how much a visit from a member of the Royal family can be a force for good.
Though he lacks the sheer star power of his mother, the Prince has for years been determined to shift the dial on royal visits. His new idea of “community impact days aims” to turn the concept on its head.