Prince William has made a rare public mention of his brother, Prince Harry, while speaking candidly about his childhood, family life, and royal destiny in a new television appearance.
The Prince of Wales, 43, appeared on Eugene Levy’s Apple TV+ series “The Reluctant Traveler,” where he discussed his hopes for his children and what kind of monarch he intends to be.
Prince William Opens Up About Family & Royal Future
When asked about the prospect of his eldest son, Prince George, one day becoming king, William acknowledged the weight of the responsibility.
“It’s an interesting question, and it’s a big question, that one,” William said. “Because there’s lots of things to think about with that.”
The future king explained that he wants to ensure his children inherit a more compassionate monarchy. “Obviously, I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do, a world and a job that actually does impact people’s lives for the better,” he said. “That is caveated with, I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past, that Harry and I had to grow up with — and I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation.”
Where Do Prince William & Prince Harry Stand Today?
The comments marked a rare reference to his younger brother amid their ongoing estrangement. The relationship between the princes has been strained since 2020, when Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties. The divide grew after the couple’s 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the release of their Netflix docuseries, and Harry’s bestselling memoir — all of which criticized the royal institution.
Royal historian Robert Lacey, author of Battle of Brothers, told People that reconciliation remains difficult. “The rift is very profound and very long-lasting,” he said. “It will not be changed, in my opinion, until Harry makes a move and apologizes.” Historian Amanda Foreman added, “Everyone wants it to happen on their terms, but that’s what makes it impossible.”
Recently, Harry met with their father, King Charles, for the first time in 19 months — a reunion one former royal aide described as “a massive step in the right direction.”
Prince William Reflects on Royal Upbringing
In the interview, William also reflected on his memories of Windsor Castle. “My cousins and I, and the family, would chase each other up and down here and do silly games,” he recalled. “I remember these carpets weren’t here, and there were a couple of spots where you used to have to watch out because you’d get massive splinters… It was a really dark, wooden, oak floor.”
William emphasized his late mother Princess Diana’s influence on his approach to parenting his three children: George, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
“Yes, definitely, I think it’s really important that that atmosphere is created at home,” he said when asked about creating a stable family life. “You have to have that warmth, that feeling of safety, security, love. That all has to be there, and that was certainly part of my childhood.”
He admitted that his parents’ divorce had an impact. “My parents got divorced at 8, so that lasted a short period of time,” he noted. “But you take that and you learn from it and you try and make sure you don’t do the same mistakes as your parents.”
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