Of all the unexpected pairings in recent television, few could have predicted that the Prince of Wales would open up so candidly to Eugene Levy, the famously deadpan star of "Schitt’s Creek" and "American Pie." Yet that’s exactly what unfolded in the fourth episode of season three of Levy’s Apple TV+ series, The Reluctant Traveler, which aired on October 3, 2025. Over the course of a day spent touring Windsor Castle and sharing a pint at the local Two Brewers pub, Prince William offered viewers a rare, unguarded glimpse into his personal philosophy, family life, and vision for the future of the British monarchy.
William’s willingness to reflect publicly on the challenges of royal life—and even the strains within his own family—marked the conversation as one of the most revealing interviews of his career. According to The Guardian, the prince spoke with unusual frankness about the pressures of tradition, the weight of history, and the need to question whether certain customs remain relevant. “I like a little bit of change,” William said, nursing a pint of cider. “I want to question things more. I think it’s very important that tradition stays. And tradition has a huge part in all of this. But there are also points where you look at tradition and go, ‘Is that still fit for purpose today?’ So I like to question things.”
Levy, sensing the gravity of the moment, pressed further: “It sounds like the monarchy will be shifting in a slightly different direction.” William didn’t hesitate to agree. “I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda,” he replied. “Change for good. 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—changes that I think need to happen.”
William’s remarks signaled not only a generational shift but also a personal one. He was quick to clarify that his vision for the monarchy is not about revolution, but about measured progress. “Not overly radical change, but changes that I think need to happen,” he emphasized. The prince’s comments echoed a sentiment widely shared among royal watchers: that William is poised to be a far more transformative monarch than his father, King Charles III.
In fact, the shadow of Charles loomed subtly but unmistakably over the conversation. William referred to his father only sparingly, noting, “My father needs a bit of protection but he’s old enough to do that himself as well.” According to The Guardian, the prince’s almost offhand mention of Charles did little to dispel recent speculation about tensions between king and heir. The interview instead fanned the flames of ongoing rumors about a strained relationship, particularly in the wake of a challenging year for the royal family.
Indeed, William described 2024 as “the hardest year I’ve ever had.” Both his wife, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and his father were diagnosed with cancer that year. While Kate is now in remission, Charles continues to receive treatment. “Things are good. Everything is progressing in the right way, which is all good news,” William told Levy. “But I’d say 2024 was the hardest year I’ve ever had. Trying to sort of balance protecting the children, Catherine, my father needs a bit of protection, but he’s old enough to do that himself as well. But it’s important my family feel protected and have the space to kind of 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.”
William’s reflections on family extended beyond his immediate household. For the first time in years, he spoke publicly about his brother, Prince Harry, with whom he has been estranged since Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020. “I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do, and a world and a job that actually does impact people’s lives for the better,” William said, referencing his eldest, Prince George, who is now 12. “That is caveated with, I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past that, you know, 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.”
Harry, for his part, has been forthright about the difficulties of his royal upbringing, most notably in his memoir Spare, where he chronicled both the emotional and physical tolls of life in the royal spotlight. The book included an explosive account of a physical altercation with William and painted a picture of two brothers shaped by an institution that often prioritized tradition over personal well-being. In interviews, Harry has insisted that his revelations were “not about revenge, it is about accountability.”
The sense of generational transition was palpable as William discussed his parenting style. He and Kate Middleton are determined to give their children as normal an upbringing as possible—one that balances royal duty with family stability. “For me, the most important thing in my life is family, and everything is about the future and about if you don’t start the children off now with a happy, healthy, stable home, I feel you’re setting them up for a bit of a hard time and a fall,” William explained. He revealed that the couple is strict about keeping their children—George, Charlotte, and Louis—away from cell phones, preferring they spend time outdoors, play sports, and learn musical instruments. “Keeping them busy with sports and just being outdoors is really important. They’re trying to learn musical instruments,” he said, adding that Louis is “obsessed by trampolining.”
William also reflected on how his own childhood relationship with Queen Elizabeth II evolved over time. “My grandparents were of a different generation,” he told Levy. “I think when we were younger, it was harder to have that very close relationship because it was quite formal. But as they got older and I got older, it got warmer and warmer. I definitely think my relationship was best with my grandparents when they were more in their sort of 80s, when they had sort of relaxed a bit.”
On the topic of media scrutiny, William was unequivocal about the damage relentless press attention can cause. “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,” he said. “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. And they wanted every bit of detail they could absorb, and they were in everything, literally everywhere. They would know things. They’d be everywhere. And 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.”
As he contemplates his eventual ascension to the throne, William appears determined to chart a course that honors tradition while embracing the need for thoughtful change. “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… It’s important to live for the here and now. But also I think if you’re too intrinsically attached to history, you can’t possibly have any flexibility because you worry that the chess pieces move too much and therefore no change will happen,” he mused.
For a royal family so often defined by protocol and reserve, William’s candor with Eugene Levy offered a refreshing—and perhaps prescient—glimpse of what the monarchy might look like under his reign. Whether his vision ultimately delivers the change he hopes for remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the next chapter for Britain’s royal family promises to be anything but dull.
