Prince William has a “wicked sense of humor” and is comfortable with his royal future, a friend says

He is reported to be a man of steely determination, quick wit and compassion, and friends are convinced William has what it takes to be king

The Duke of Cambridge is at peace with his future as king, friends say, despite his brother Harry cutting ties with the family and starting a new life.

Prince William, second in line to the throne, always cut a more reserved figure than his younger brother. But it’s his sense of duty that continues to drive him and motivate him for his future as King, his longtime mentor Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton said the Daily Mail.

“He wasn’t rubbing his hands with joy [at what is to come]but dutifully considered it,” said Lowther-Pinkerton. “One of the nice things I remember from an early age was this feeling of disbelief that people really cared about who he was or what he was doing.”

Sources close to the second in line to the throne reportedly said that while William once railed against his future, he is now more at peace with himself than ever.

But William wasn’t always so stiff and correct. In early adulthood, he was described by friends as someone who “greatly enjoyed himself…although, unlike Harry, he never got caught!”.

And he clearly has a great sense of humor too, as evidenced by an inside story from Will and Kate’s 2012 tour of the South Pacific.

The source said the royal couple lived in a house on one side of a large bay, while their support team lived on the opposite side.

Late one evening and after a particularly tiring day, the Cambridge team decided to take a dip in the warm water. Then, out of nowhere, “a helper (who is to remain nameless) was dragged under the water, coughing and stuttering,” the source revealed.

“All hell broke loose when everyone thought they were being attacked by a shark and freaked out,” they said.

But it was William.

The prince “had caught wind of their late-night swim,” the source said, “and swam all the way around the bay, pretty much underwater because he’s such an experienced diver to prank them!”

Sources have also described William as an “incredibly caring boss” who treats his employees really well and even sends get well gifts to those who are ill.

He “likes to chatter about their dates when they go wrong,” the source said, “and even keeps tabs on the people who’ve gone.”

A man of steely determination, quick wit and compassion – it’s clear friends, sources and royal insiders believe William has the makings of king and are doing a good job of it.

“The coming decades will be some of the greatest challenges we have faced as a nation in modern history,” said a close friend. “And William is ready to step up to the plate.”