The Duke of Cambridge, Prince William, has spoken recently about the unique challenges of raising children as part of a royal family. He reflects heavily on his own childhood, particularly the effects of his parents’ divorce. He is deeply committed to protecting his family from media harassment and invasion. He remains committed to raising them in a caring, inclusive community where they can thrive. Prince William is devoting himself to royal duties, quite literally, with gusto. He’s motivated to make his eldest son, George, proud of the legacy that he one day will leave.
The Duke of Cambridge recalls how the media’s scrutiny during his formative years affected him and his brother, Prince Harry. Even more so, he said he wished to protect his children from the same public high school culture and underage drug use pressures. Life is peachy. Everything is clearly moving in the right direction, which is great news. 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,” he said.
Prince William’s dedication to doing the most good with the least harm I’ve found to be a consistent theme. He wants to do more than just meet regal obligations, he wants to use the work that comes with royalty to do more good in the world. He remarked, “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.”
Navigating Childhood Memories
During the ride, Prince William recalled his own childhood experiences. He spoke emotionally about the fire that consumed Windsor Castle in 1992, which he witnessed with his mother, Princess Diana. His view on family life today—as told through his art and media—has been influenced by two major forces. First, he endured his parents’ divorce at the young age of only eight. He understands just how long these experiences can follow kids.
He said, “As a kid I experienced that with my own parents. This very public acknowledgment just goes to show how much stability and security means to him, especially having it in his own home. Parenting Prince William is determined to raise Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in a warm and loving household. He constantly balances their safety with providing the support they need to thrive.
We provide them the financial security and personal safety that allow them to thrive. Being a completely open family entails speaking on what irritates us and what scares us. His choice of approach signals respect for prioritizing healthy, honest dialogue between all members of the family.
The Importance of Tradition and Modernity
Prince William went on to touch on the tension between keeping royal traditions and being modernized in today’s world. He thinks tradition is absolutely central to their life. He believes it’s important for artists to ask whether those practices still make sense in the present. “I think it’s very important that tradition stays, and tradition has a huge part in all of this but there are points where 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?’” he stated.
His musings reveal a premonition that times—and royal duties—were changing. He’s looking at the next generation of leaders. More than anything, he wants to respect tradition while making sure that he and his family do the kind of work that makes a difference.
Fostering Childhood Passions
Like his wife, Prince William has been hands-on and intentional in fostering an environment in which his children can explore their interests and passions. He shared insights into their hobbies, noting George’s love for football and hockey, Charlotte’s participation in netball and ballet, and Louis’s enthusiasm for trampolining. He said he was proud of his children’s ability to adapt to new realities in their lives, a testament to his kids’ resilience.
“My children don’t realize how lucky they are. They’ve got a big old carpet they can run down and there’s no splinters,” he said, illustrating the joy he finds in their playfulness. His hands-on approach as a parent includes setting boundaries, as he mentioned, “None of our children have any phones, which we’re very strict about.”
Besides supporting and encouraging their individual interests, Prince William very much prioritizes family time and communication. We talk; that’s very catalytic, too,” he continued. This connection, he argues, gives children a “mini-society,” a bedrock of security and interdependent love that he argues is necessary for healthy interpersonal relations and family structures.
