Prince William has offered a rare glimpse into what kind of monarch he intends to be, hinting at changes he hopes to bring when the day comes for him to ascend the throne.
The Prince of Wales, 45, appears in a special episode of The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy, which airs tomorrow on Apple TV+. In the program, William opens up about everything from his wife Kate Middleton and father King Charles’ cancer battles to his own memories of growing up within the royal family.
The episode sees William guide Canadian actor Eugene Levy through Windsor Castle before the pair enjoy a walk with his dog Orla and settle down for a pint at the pub.
When asked directly about the prospect of becoming King, William admitted that it is not something he dwells on day to day, as it will only follow after his father’s death. But he made clear that he intends to embrace evolution when the time comes.
“I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda,” William said. “Change for good. And I embrace that and 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 change, but changes that I think need to happen.”
Authenticity, he explained, will be central to his reign. “Being authentic, being myself, being genuine is what drives me. If I’m not true to myself and I’m not true to what I stand for and believe in, then it kind of doesn’t really matter who you are. It gets lost.”
The Prince also reflected on his role as a father and on preparing Prince George, 12, for the day he will inherit the crown. “I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do, and a world and a job that 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 in, and I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation.”
William also spoke candidly about the weight of history surrounding Windsor Castle, suggesting that tradition must always be balanced with progress. “If you’re not careful, history can feel like a real anchor and weight around you. I think it’s important to live for the here and now. If you’re too intrinsically attached to history, you can’t possibly have any flexibility because you worry the chess pieces move too much, and therefore no change will happen. I like a little bit of change.”
While emphasizing the value of tradition, the future King stressed the importance of questioning its relevance. “Tradition has a huge part of all of this,” he said. “But there are also points where you look at tradition and ask, is that fit for purpose today? Is that still the right thing to do? Are we having the most impact we could be having?”
The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy special episode featuring Prince William premieres Friday, October 3, on Apple TV+.