Prince William is committed to giving his children the calm and constant family life that he didn’t have growing up.

In the Oct. 3 episode of Eugene Levy’s Apple TV+ series, The Reluctant Traveler, the Prince of Wales gives perhaps the most candid interview of his life, opening up about his childhood, family time with Kate Middleton and his royal destiny as the future King of England.

William, 43, admits that part of his agenda as a monarch will be creating “change for good.” However, at home with Kate and their three children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — it’s all about stability.

When Levy asks about the prince’s desire for his kids to have a “relatively normal home life,” William agrees that it “definitely” started with his late mother, Princess Diana.

“I think it’s really important that that atmosphere is created at home. You have to have that warmth, that feeling of safety, security, love,” he says.

“That all has to be there, and that was certainly part of my childhood,” he adds, though he admits, “My parents got divorced at 8, so that lasted a short period of time.”

Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince William, Prince Charles on Prince William’s first day at Eton, Sept. 6, 1995.Tom Wargacki/WireImage

Diana and then-Prince Charles married on July 29, 1981. Within just a few years, the marriage was strained, largely due to Charles’ long-running affair with Camilla Parker Bowles, though there was infidelity on both sides. The couple announced their separation in 1992. After years of turmoil — including Diana’s bombshell 1995 interview with Martin Bashir, where she said, “There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded” — their divorce was finalized on August 28, 1996.

“You take that and you learn from it and you try and make sure you don’t do the same mistakes as your parents,” William notes. “I think we all try and do that and I just want to do what’s best for my children, but I know that the drama and the stress when you’re small really affects you when you’re older.”

Prince William and Kate Middleton in 2023; Princess Diana and Prince Charles.Karwai Tang/WireImage; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

The Prince of Wales also cites the constant media attention on his family as something that he and Kate attempt to mitigate with their own children.

“Growing up, I saw that with my parents. The media were so insatiable back then. It’s hard to think of it now, but they were much more insatiable,” he recalls. “They wanted every bit of detail they could absorb, and they were in everything, literally everywhere. They would know things, they’d be everywhere.”

“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. And so, I take a very strong line about where I think that line is and those who overstep it, I’ll fight against,” William adds.

Being a tight-knit family of five, amid the sprawling legacy of the British royals, has also helped the Waleses navigate what William describes as “the hardest year I’ve ever had,” between 2023 and 2024, when both Kate and King Charles were diagnosed with cancer.

“Trying to sort of balance protecting the children, Catherine, my father needs a bit of protection, but he’s, you know, he’s old enough to do that himself as well,” he says. “But it’s important my family feel protected and have the space to process a lot of the stuff that’s gone on last year, and that was tricky trying to do that and keep doing the job.”

“But you know, we all have challenges that come our way and it’s important to keep going,” he adds. “I enjoy my job, but sometimes there are aspects of it, such as the media, the speculation, the scrutiny, that make it a little bit harder than other jobs. It’s just making sure that doesn’t overtake and intrude into areas at times when you just want a bit of space, and a bit of peace and quiet.”

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince William, Prince Louis and Kate Middleton attend Trooping the Colour events on June 14, 2025.Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

In January 2025, Kate announced that she was in remission following chemotherapy treatments. In his talk with Levy, William confirms that “Everything is progressing in the right way, which is all good news.” However, he admits his family is still recovering from the realization that “the metaphorical rug can be pulled from under your feet quite quick at any point.”

“Everyone has their own coping mechanisms for these sorts of things, and children are constantly learning and adapting,” he says of how his kids have handled the tumultuous past year. “We try to make sure we give them the security and the safety that they need.”

“We’re a very open family, so we talk about things that bother us, and things that trouble us,” he adds. “But you never quite know the knock-on effects that it can have. And so, it’s just important to be there for each other and to kind of reassure the children that everything is okay.”

Another unprecedented personal question that William answers for Levy is how he feels about his eldest son, Prince George, one day following in his footsteps to become King.

Prince William and Eugene Levy in ‘The Reluctant Traveler’.Ian Gavan/Apple TV+

“It’s an interesting question, and it’s a big question, that one,” William replies. “Because there’s lots of things to think about with that.”

He continues, “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. 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.”

“I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda. Change for good,” William continued. “And I embrace that and I enjoy that change – I don’t fear it. That’s the bit that excites me, is the idea of being able to bring some change. Not overly radical change, but changes that I think that need to happen.”