Prince William opened up about his desire to provide a “relatively normal home life” for his children, a goal he attributes to the influence of his late mother, Princess Diana. In a candid interview on the October 3 episode of The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy, the Prince of Wales, 43, shared personal insights about his upbringing, his royal duties, and the importance of family life.
William and his wife, Kate Middleton, both work to keep things grounded for their children—Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7. Despite their high-profile roles as Prince and Princess of Wales, William emphasizes the importance of maintaining a balanced family life. “I do try and stick to school timetables as best as possible. So, most days we’re in and out of school doing pick-ups and drop-offs,” William explained, admitting that his schedule isn’t quite like a typical 9-to-5 job.
He stressed that creating a stable and loving environment for his children is crucial. “Getting the balance of work and family life right is really important. Because, for me, the most important thing in my life is family, and everything is about the future,” he said. “If you don’t start the children off now with a happy, healthy, stable home, I feel you’re setting them up for a bit of a hard time and a fall.”
When Levy asked if his outlook was influenced by his mother, William responded without hesitation: “Yes, definitely.” He recalled how, despite his parents’ divorce when he was just 8 years old, he remembers the importance of feeling safe, loved, and secure at home. “That all has to be there, and that was certainly part of my childhood,” he shared. William also reflected on how he learned from the challenges of his parents’ tumultuous marriage and the impact it had on him. “You take that and you learn from it and you try and make sure you don’t do the same mistakes as your parents,” he said.
The Prince of Wales also discussed the role of media attention in his life, especially as a child. He emphasized how crucial it is to protect his own family from the pressures of public scrutiny. “If you let that creep in, the damage it can do to your family life is something that I vowed would never happen to my family,” he noted, adding that he takes a strong stance on where those boundaries lie and will fight against anyone who oversteps them.
For fun, William shared how his children enjoy outdoor activities and sports, away from the influence of cell phones and social media. “Louis loves the trampoline, he’s obsessed with trampolining, and actually, Charlotte does a lot as well. As far as I can tell, they just end up jumping up and down on the trampoline, beating each other up most of the time,” he joked. “Charlotte does her netball as well and her ballet… George loves his football and his hockey.” The family also encourages their children to learn musical instruments, though William admitted with a smile, “I’m not sure how successful we’re being with that.”
William’s reflections reveal a deeply personal commitment to ensuring his children experience the joy and stability of family life, despite the unique challenges that come with being part of the royal family. His words also shed light on how the lessons he learned from his own childhood shape his approach to parenting, aiming to provide George, Charlotte, and Louis with a secure and happy upbringing.
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