William mcgowan biography
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He does not necessarily like being on display on what he views as a private and sacred day.
Prince William and his children attend the Christmas morning service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 2024, in Sandringham, Norfolk.(Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images)
"However, while sometimes clashing with King Charles, he understands the public’s wish to see the royal family informally.
Several of his literary and journalistic properties have been optioned for Hollywood development.
A regular contributor to the Wall Street Journal where he has published book reviews, media criticism, cultural commentary and editorial features for over 20 years, McGowan has appeared regularly on MSNBC, Fox News, CNN, CNBC, C-Span, PBS and NPR, as well as other cable and broadcast networks.
Whenever someone shrieked with surprise at a rubber snake or fake spider, the late queen used to say matter-of-factly, ‘Oh, that would be Harry.’"
This picture taken on Dec. 12, 2012, shows Britain's Prince Harry wearing a Christmas hat as he stands outside the VHR (very high readiness) tent at Camp Bastion in Afghanistan's Helmand province.(John Stillwell/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
William also liked to poke fun at both his younger brother and grandmother.
PRINCE WILLIAM QUIETLY RESHAPING MONARCHY AS KING CHARLES UNDERGOES CANCER TREATMENT, BATTLES SCANDALS: EXPERT
Prince Harry was known as an expert at choosing "rude" gifts during the holiday season.(Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023)
"Prince William gifted a ‘Grow Your Own Girlfriend’ kit to Prince Harry," Chard alleged.
Some reports claim it was Kate who gave that present to her brother-in-law before he met Meghan Markle in 2016.
"William also gifted a pair of comfy slippers to the late Queen Elizabeth II, emblazoned with her image.
She was tickled pink," said Chard.
Stephanie Nolasco covers entertainment at Foxnews.com.
Prince William, Kate Middleton and kids spread cheer on Christmas
Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales as well as their three kids, princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, spread holiday cheer on Christmas morning.
The Wales family joined King Charles III, Queen Camilla and other members of Britain's royal family Thursday as they walked to St.
Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham for Christmas Day service. “I think the Princess now being able to grant royal warrants will introduce this honor in a new way to a new generation of royal watchers.”
Royal journalist Richard Palmer referred to the Royal Warrant as “the gold standard of endorsements” and agreed, telling the outlet, “Kate’s warrant will be especially sought after.”
Kate and William’s new titles aren’t the only notable changes within the royal family.
"At Adelaide Cottage, he’s fine with children running in and out. He has lectured widely on media-related topics at a variety of institutions and universities, including the National Press Club, The Freedom Forum’s Newseum, the Center for Communication, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism, Syracuse University’s Newhouse School of Journalism, NYU and Yale University.
"He liked it so much that he still travels with it when he goes abroad."
Royal photographer and broadcaster Helena Chard told Fox News Digital that Princess Anne has been crowned "The Queen of Gifts" among her family.
Princess Anne is known as "the queen of gifts."(Hoda Davaine/Getty Images)
"She gave a light-up pepper grinder to the late Prince Philip," she said.
Prince William eager to ditch outdated royal Christmas traditions as King Charles resists the change: expert
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! If you’ve got all the greatest jewelry in the world, all the greatest works of art in the world, all the greatest clothes in the world, what would you give each other for Christmas?
He won the National Press Club Award for media criticism in 2002 and was nominated for the National Magazine Award for Feature Writing in 2012.
Once a company or individual is granted a Royal Warrant, they are given “the right to display the appropriate Royal Arms on their product, packaging, stationery, advertising, premises and vehicles” for the five-year warrant period, per the website.
Now that William and Kate will have the ability to approve Royal Warrants, many are eager to see how Kate’s love of fashion will come into play.
At that time, Andrew was no longer a working royal but had previously joined the royal family celebrating Christmas at Sandringham since losing his military titles and royal patronages in 2022.
How Britain's royal family celebrates Christmas
Each year at Christmas, members of the royal family gather for a multi-day celebration at Sandringham, the king's estate in Norfolk, England.
After attending church together on Christmas morning, the family enjoys lunch at Sandringham before watching the king deliver his annual televised Christmas message.
In the evening, the family members gather again for a Christmas buffet dinner.
On the day after Christmas, known as Boxing Day in the U.K., the royals traditionally partake in a pheasant shoot on the grounds of Sandringham.
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Kate Middleton and Prince William Will Have New Royal Roles Starting in 2026
Princess Charlotte Joins Mom Kate Middleton for Surprise Piano Performance
The future King and Queen of England will have more power in the new year.
Indeed, Prince William and Kate Middleton will step into their roles as Grantors of Royal Warrants in Spring 2026 thanks to his dad King Charles granting them the titles earlier this year.
In their new roles, the Prince and Princess of Wales will have the authority to publicly endorse their favorite brands.
A Grantor of Royal Warrants has the power to bestow a Royal Warrant of Appointment to a company or individual who has supplied “products or services on a regular and ongoing basis” to the Royal Household for at least five of the last seven years, according to the Royal Warrant Holders Association’s website.
He is also a contributor to Clash of Identities: Essays on Media, Manipulation and the Politics of the Self. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
Prince William and his aunt Princess Anne attend the royal Christmas service at Sandringham Church on Dec. 25, 1990.(Georges De Keerle/Getty Images)
"He’s all for less pomp, more purpose," Fordwich added.
Sean said that, moving forward, William hopes to make the royal tradition of exchanging gag gifts more relaxed and inclusive, rather than tied to the hierarchy within the line of succession.
"Together at Christmas," a service led by Kate Middleton, celebrates human connection and service during the holidays.(Aaron Chown - Pool/Getty Images)
"He wants to get a huge barrel, put all the presents in, and simply call up various members of the family to plunge their hand in the barrel and reveal who they’ve got a present from," he said.
The Prince and Princess of Wales sharing a moment at Westminster Abbey during "Together at Christmas" on Dec.
8, 2021, in London.(Yui Mok - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams said there’s no doubt the tradition, revamped or not, is here to stay.
"If the royals did not give each other joke gifts, it would be a joke," Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital. For the king, however, it’s important to interact with the public who give up part of their Christmas Day to meet the royals."
The king, 77, isn’t the only one who is in favor of keeping the annual Christmas walk with the family.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were crowned in 2023.(Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images)
"According to my source, this is one area that William and Catherine don’t necessarily agree on," Sean claimed, noting that the Princess of Wales shares the same mindset as her father-in-law.
"But like with so many things, it is all up for discussion in the future of the monarchy under King William."
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Neil Sean claimed that Kate Middleton (pictured here with her son Prince Louis) is in favor of keeping the Christmas Day walk.(Aaron Chown - Pool/Getty Images)
Fox News Digital reached out to Kensington Palace for comment.
The Daily Mail previously reported that William had gotten used to spending Christmas privately with his wife and their three young children.
Prince William enjoys celebrating Christmas privately with his wife and children.(Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
"Friends say the couple enjoy the Middleton-style ‘family chaos’ present-opening, rather than Sandringham’s more orchestrated festivities," the outlet reported.
According to multiple reports and royal experts, Prince William is inspired by Kate Middleton's family.(Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images)
British royals expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that William, 43, has an issue with the "hierarchical nature" of distributing gag gifts among the royals at Christmas.
(Prentice-Hall & Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 1996).
The late Ryszard Kapuscinski called Only Man Is Vile "one of the best books ever written on nationalistic, racial and religious conflict;” The Times Book Review listed Only Man Is Vile as one of its “Notable Books of the Year.” The Village Voice’s Nat Hentoff wrote that Coloring The News should be “mandatory” reading, ranking it alongside the journalism of I.F.
Stone, Jimmy Breslin and Murray Kempton. William thinks this also needs a radical rethink. These are £1 and £5 joke presents, an idea started by Queen Elizabeth II."
"According to this recent report, William wants to get rid of it because he believes it’s forced," said Sean.
From left: Prince William, Princess Charlotte and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend a Christmas lunch for members of the royal family, hosted by King Charles III, at Buckingham Palace on Dec.
16, 2025, in London.(Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
"But the report is wrong. Inspired by his wife’s family, he’s said to be eager to introduce a more informal celebration when he becomes king.
"He rejects this sort of pecking order," Fordwich explained. My sources tell me William enjoys the informal gatherings hosted by Princess Catherine’s family and wants to move in that direction — more family-oriented, less formal, and less about seniority."
WATCH: BRITISH ROYALS EXCHANGE ‘SLIGHTLY RUDE’ CHRISTMAS GIFTS: EXPERT
In addition to getting palace staff more involved with the festivities, the father of three is reportedly pushing to overhaul yet another long-standing royal ritual.
"Another tradition that is up for discussion is the famous Christmas Day walk to church," said Sean.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children, during the annual Christmas Day walk on Dec.
25, 2023, in Sandringham.(Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
"It is well received and loved by all, according to the source. He’s already relaxed formal protocols of mandatory bowing and curtseying, making interactions more relatable — and as natural as meeting a future king can be."
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"I’ve heard that they’ve been given in the past.