Prince William rejects criticism he is ‘work shy’

Britain Prince William, centre and, Britain’s Prince Harry look at Star Wars character the droid C3P0 as they visit the creature and droid department at Pinewood studios in Iver Heath, west of London on Tuesday April 19, 2016. AP

LONDON — Prince William has rejected criticism that he doesn’t put enough time into royal duties in interviews ahead of Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday.

Dismissing the moniker of “work-shy William,” the second-in-line to the throne says he’s balancing his royal duties with those of a husband, father and air ambulance pilot. William says when the queen is ready to hand over tasks, he’ll be the “first person to accept them.”

William tells the BBC he’s “going to get plenty of criticism over my lifetime, and it’s something that I don’t completely ignore, but it’s not something I take completely to heart.”

In another interview with Sky News, he offers tribute to the queen and credits her with helping him through the loss of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. TVJ