Prince William has opened up about his childhood and his determination to shield his son, Prince George, from the same difficulties he and his brother, Prince Harry, faced growing up.
In a rare television appearance on The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy on Apple TV+, the 43-year-old Prince of Wales spoke candidly about his family, his late mother Princess Diana’s influence, and his vision for his children’s future.
“It’s an interesting and big question,” William said when asked about George, 12, eventually becoming king. “I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do — a world and a job that actually impacts people’s lives for the better.”
He added, “I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past that Harry and I had to grow up in — and I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation.”
The prince’s comment was a rare public reference to his estranged brother, whose relationship with the royal family has remained tense since stepping down from royal duties in 2020 alongside Meghan Markle.
William also reflected on how his parents’ troubled marriage and divorce shaped his approach to parenting. “My parents got divorced when I was eight, so that lasted a short period of time,” he said. “You take that and you learn from it, and you try to make sure you don’t do the same mistakes as your parents.”
He emphasized the importance of creating “warmth, safety, and love” at home for his children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — describing that environment as essential for their well-being.
During the interview, the prince also discussed the health challenges faced by his father, King Charles III, and his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales. Both were diagnosed with cancer in 2024.
“Yes, things are good. Everything is progressing in the right way, which is all good news,” William told Levy. “But I’d say 2024 was the hardest year I’ve ever had — trying to protect the children, Catherine, and my father, while continuing to do the job.”
He concluded by saying, “We all have challenges that come our way, and it’s important to keep going.”
Prince William’s episode of The Reluctant Traveler is now streaming on Apple TV+.
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