Prince William recently opened up about what he described as the hardest year of his life during a segment on Eugene Levy’s travel show, “The Reluctant Traveler.” As he led Levy on an intimate tour of Windsor Castle, he shared his story. This honest and heartfelt reflection illuminated the physical and emotional toll he and his family continue to endure in these 19 months post-crash.
In the interview, Prince William, 43, stated, “I’d say 2024 was the hardest year I’ve ever had.” His remarks come in the wake of his own family’s near-death experience. This includes his wife, Kate Middleton, who fought cancer last year. Middleton, 43, announced her remission in January as King Charles III, 76, is still undergoing treatment for his cancer diagnosis.
In that episode, airing on Apple TV+ on October 3, Prince William and Levy shared a pint at a British pub. There, the young royal shared candidly about the transitions that have marked his family’s last few years. He jokingly described how he and his family basically rent out their home as a tour guide service for Windsor Castle visitors.
The new king and his prime minister hiked across Windsor Great Park with Prince William’s dog, Orla, as they talked about overcoming adversity. Prince William remarked, “You know, life is sent to test us as well, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are.” The discussion addressed the realities and difficulties of being a parent today. The prince opened up about how many sleepless nights taking care of his three small children have robbed him of. He quipped about needing sleep, stating, “Sleep… when you’ve got three small children, sleep was an important part of my life.”
Prince William’s frank words are an attempt to process a rocky road his own family recently traversed. He had earlier called 2024 “brutal,” making clear the depth of personal tribulations they have endured in recent months. The prince further teased that Eugene Levy is going to drink him under the table as they travel from country to country.
Adding a lighter note to their serious conversation, Prince William joked about how he purchased an electric scooter in 2023 to navigate between Windsor Castle and his nearby home at Adelaide Cottage. This note, added by Prince Harry, suggests his wish to keep things normal even when royal life was pushing everything else away.
