When Eugene Levy sat down with Prince William for a candid episode of The Reluctant Traveler on Apple TV+, it was a conversation that surprised both the host and his audience—not for what was said about scandal, but for what wasn’t. In an era of royal drama and headline-chasing controversy, Levy made a deliberate and respectful decision: he chose not to ask the Prince of Wales about his estranged brother, Prince Harry, or sister-in-law Meghan Markle. Speaking to ITV News ahead of the episode’s release on October 3, the Canadian actor and comedian explained that while no topic was off-limits, he never intended to touch on that particular subject. “I was not told I couldn’t ask anything,”
Levy shared, “but it wasn’t really, you know, up to me, to get into that. I had no interest in asking him about that, because it was, you know, a very delicate issue and certainly not up to me to get into it.” With quiet clarity, Levy acknowledged that while the drama surrounding Harry and Meghan continues to draw public fascination, some conversations are better left for others—or not had at all.
Instead, Levy saw an opportunity to focus on more meaningful, forward-looking dialogue. “There were other things I could lead the conversation to that might be interesting for him and interesting for the world to hear,” he said, reinforcing a guiding principle for content creators and interviewers alike: not every question worth asking is worth airing. His restraint created space for a deeper and more revealing exchange with Prince William—one that offered rare insights into the future monarch’s personal challenges, his vision for the monarchy, and the toll that the past year has taken on his family.
As the cameras rolled, viewers were offered a more intimate glimpse of Prince William than is typically shared with the public. In the episode, titled Living the Royal Life in the U.K., William discussed how the cancer diagnoses of both his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and his father, King Charles III, shaped what he described as the most difficult year of his life.
Adding a poignant sense of vulnerability to the episode, William also reflected on his family life, the pressures of royal duty, and his desire to usher in “change for good” as he looks ahead to his eventual reign. When CNN royal correspondent Max Foster followed up in a separate interview with Levy, he noted how the tone of their meeting was surprisingly personal from the outset—set, in part, by the Prince casually arriving on a scooter. “You go on this tour, but it does take this turn… He talks about being overwhelmed by the family stress and then you go deep,” Foster said. In response, Levy acknowledged that the encounter unfolded in an unexpected but deeply human way. “It changes what’s kind of important,” he observed, reflecting on how adversity seemed to have sharpened William’s focus and priorities. “He truly indicated that it did kind of alter his way of thinking.”
Perhaps the most revealing moment came when William remarked, “Safe to say change is on my agenda,” as the two discussed the future of the monarchy. For Levy, this statement carried weight. “My sense is that it may be speaking toward what will happen when he becomes King and what the tone of his monarchy will be like,” he said. “And it might be something, the likes of something we haven’t seen. The world hasn’t seen.” It was a quiet but significant hint at how William may lead with a renewed sense of empathy, pragmatism, and purpose—one shaped by personal trials, global scrutiny, and a shifting public expectation of what modern royalty should represent.
The episode, now streaming on Apple TV+, does more than showcase the sights of Windsor Castle or the traditions of British aristocracy. It exemplifies the power of thoughtful storytelling, where moments of levity and depth are allowed to coexist. For communicators, creators, and marketers, Levy’s approach is a compelling case study in how to guide conversations that resonate—by choosing substance over spectacle, and by giving space for subjects to share authentically rather than defensively. In an age where attention is currency and controversy often trumps context, the most impactful stories are sometimes those that choose to listen, to respect the moment, and to uncover something more meaningful beneath the surface.
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