Prince William has said he plans to make changes to the monarchy when he eventually takes the throne, in what palace insiders describe as his most candid interview to date.
Speaking to actor Eugene Levy for Apple TV+’s The Reluctant Traveller during a tour of Windsor Castle, the Prince of Wales reflected on his future role and his vision for the institution.
“I think it's safe to say that change is on my agenda,” he said. “Change for good, and I embrace that, I enjoy that change. I don't fear it, that's the bit that excites me, the idea of being able to bring some change. Not overly radical, but changes that I think need to happen.”
William arrived to meet Levy on an electric scooter, which he explained he uses to get around the castle grounds. The conversation, which insiders described as unusually open, touched on the monarchy, family life, media scrutiny, and his personal outlook on tradition and modernity.
During the tour of the castle’s grand rooms, he spoke about the weight of family history and the need to balance it with the present.
“I think if you're not careful, history can be a real weight and an anchor around you, and you can feel suffocated by it, and restricted by it too much. And I think it's important to live for the here and now.”
He added that while tradition remains important, it must be examined to keep the monarchy relevant.
“There are points when you look at tradition and go, is that still fit for purpose today? Is that still the right thing to do? Are we still doing and having the most impact we could be having? So I like to question things, is what I'm really getting at.”
The interview also offered a glimpse into his personal life. As the two took a walk with the family dog Orla, William opened up about being a husband and father, his love for Aston Villa, and the impact of both his father and his wife facing cancer.
“Stuff to do with family overwhelms me, quite a bit. You know, worry or stress around the family side of things - that does overwhelm me quite a bit,” he said.
They later stopped at the Two Brewers pub near Windsor Castle, where Levy ordered a Guinness and William chose a pint of sweet cider. In the relaxed setting, he discussed how his family supported each other during his wife’s illness.
“We try to make sure we give them the security and the safety that they need,” he told Levy.
“And we're a very open family, so we talk about things that bother us, and things that trouble us, 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.”
Although the interview did not address the state of his relationship with Prince Harry, William did briefly refer to their shared experience of growing up under intense media scrutiny.
“I hope we don't go back to some of the practices in the past that Harry and I grew up in. And I'll do everything I can to make sure we don't regress in that situation.”
Levy later told the BBC that he was surprised by how open the prince had been. “To me, it was just a conversation. I wasn't thinking about it in my own mind as any kind of scoop,” he said. “He was telling me what his thoughts were and we were able to have a little back and forth. It was a totally surreal day for me.”
As they wrapped up their day, William reflected on the challenges of recent years and his hopes for the future.
“You know life is sent to test us as well and it definitely can be challenging at times, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are. I'm so proud of my wife and my father, for how they've handled all of last year. My children have managed brilliantly as well,” said William.