Eighty-nine years after King George V became the first British monarch to address his subjects via radio broadcast on Christmas, when millions of people heard the voice of a monarch for the first time, and some 68 years after the televised coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. – another first in the history of the House of Windsor – Prince William is now available to speak from his wrist.
Second in line to the throne. The first to use the bullying pulpit of a fitness app.
Using new media to amplify his rig, while putting a little wind in those royal sails, just like his great-great-grandfather and grandmother did back in the day, His Royal Highness has just been announced as the next blockbuster audio guest at the “Time To Walk,” courtesy of Apple Fitness + and found on the Apple Watch. Released Monday, will have the Duke of Cambridge spilling his guts as you, ideally, are inspired to put one foot in front of the other. The Prince of 39 year old joins a number of influencers already available for mindful walks in the series, in bold, ranging from Shawn Mendes to Dolly Parton, from Naomi Campbell to Malcolm Gladwell.
My verdict, after being one of the few journalists invited to join an early listening a few days ago? Prepare for William at his most intimate moment. As always.
Using the power of the medium (there is nothing more intimate than the simple power of the human voice, speaking for you, after all), “Time to Walk” makes you feel like you’re walking with the boy, as he strolls through Queen’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, from Sandringham House (where the royal family gathers for Christmas each year). , past the church of St. Mary Magdalene, and finally ends in Anmer, where William and his wife, Kate, have their lair in the country.
You hear their footsteps. That crunch of gravel. The song of the birds comes in and goes out. His breath close to the surface, while holding onto those sweet tones.
“It provokes thoughts”. “Touching.” “Humorous.”
Just a few of the descriptions about the audio walk that were thrown at us journalists before a top-secret live listen that also doubled down as a fascinating and distinctive emblem of royal communications these days – the preview led by Jay. Blahnik, who serves as Apple’s senior director of fitness technology, but is also joined by Edwina Iddles, “undersecretary for communications in the home of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.” You could say that two brand empires merge.
Iddles took the opportunity to emphasize the priority both Wils and Kate have made in speaking out about mental health in recent years and nod to the three charities in that area that Apple is specifically supporting with donations, chosen by the Cambridges.
“I have very strong memories of walking here, and my grandfather … he used to walk so fast that there would be a huge gap and gaps between all of us walking, and I would be in the back with little legs trying to keep up.” He begins, reflecting on past walks with both Prince Philip and William’s father, Prince Charles.
Along the way, he reflects on his time in the Royal Air Force, reflects on the trauma of the last year and a half of the pandemic, goes on to talk about his experiences in Africa, tells us about a particularly chilling moment that involved Taylor Swift. , he gets personal about some of the sibling fights between his sons, Charlotte and George, and even names Tina Turner (recalling how the song “The Best” reminds him of the joyous car rides with his late mother).
For those wondering, he also mentions his brother, Prince Harry, multiple times, when conjuring up memories of his childhood, all of which he couldn’t help me consider how this collaboration with Apple somehow represents William recording his own space in the cold war, of some sort, between the Cambridges and Sussex, these days. After Oprah’s explosive interview earlier this year, and the deal Harry and Meghan later signed with Netflix (among other companies), it seems like an effort, at least in part, to bring the narrative back, using some of the same oxygen. media. .
The thing is, it works. It really does. There is anything but the standard royal reserve at this William First. After announcing that Apple’s audio is coming to their own Instagram (where else?), And staying relevant on other communication channels as of late (William and Kate appeared with the Queen herself on a Zoom call with frontline workers this year , for example), this is a tactic that seems to hit the mark.
As William himself says, “Walking has been a feature of my life through good times and bad, rain or shine. For me, it gives me an opportunity to clear my mind and gain some perspective. It is a key part of how I manage my mental health. ”
Or, to put it another way: keep calm and keep walking.
The “Time to Walk” episodes are available in the Workout app on Apple Watch with a Fitness + subscription. Three special audio streams of Prince William’s “Time to Walk” episode, featuring stories and music only, will also be streamed for free on Apple Music 1, Apple Music’s flagship global radio station.
Reference-www.thestar.com