By Nicola Methven
Copyright mirror
Prince William has given a clear indication that the monarchy will be modernised under his stewardship in the future. In a new TV interview, given to Canadian actor Eugene Levy , the heir to the throne speaks candidly about his thoughts on “change” being central to his vision of modern royalty. “I think it’s very important that tradition stays, and tradition has a huge part in all of this but there’s also points where you look at tradition and go is that still fit for purpose today?” he explains to the TV star. “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. “I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda. Change for good – and I embrace that and I enjoy that change,” he continued, saying that those who were too “attached to history” were left without “any flexibility”. “Because you worry that the chess pieces move too much and therefore no change will happen – and I like a little bit of change,” he declared. “I want to question things more, That’s what I’m saying.” His clear desire for progress is delivered as he conducts a personal tour around Windsor Castle for his Canadian guest. Their meeting was arranged after the Prince of Wales learned that Levy was in London to film an episode of his Apple TV+ series, The Reluctant Traveler. Having enjoyed him in American Pie in 1999, and possibly more recently in hit sitcom Schitt’s Creek, Prince William invited the comedy star to visit him at Windsor, taking him through the castle’s many impressive state rooms, around the grounds, and ending up in a nearby pub. Foremost in his mind is helping to build the kind of world that his children want to live in. And as he explained this, William mentioned his brother Harry, from whom he is currently estranged since his move to the US in 2020 with wife Meghan and publication of his controversial memoir Spare three years later. “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,” William told Eugene. Referencing the heavy media intrusion of yesteryear, he added: “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.” He feels that he was shaped by his own early childhood, of which he has many happy memories. “I think it’s really important that that atmosphere is created at home. You have to have that warmth, that feeling of safety, security, love. That all has to be there, and that was certainly part of my childhood,” he said. But referencing the split between Charles and Diana in 1992, and their later divorce, he said his security lasted “a short period of time” and he fully intends to take a different path. Looking to his own family, he declared: “You take that and you learn from it and you try and make sure you don’t do the same mistakes as your parents. I think we all try and do that and I just want to do what’s best for my children – I know that the drama and the stress when you’re small really affects you when you’re older.” One strong memory he shares is of being in Gloucestershire with Diana when the fire at Windsor castle broke out in 1992. He says they watched, dumbfounded, as it played out on the TV. “I was having my dinner at home with my mother. And I saw my father on television with my grandparents, taking everything out of the castle. It was all over the news. “My grandmother, my grandfather, my father and I think my aunts and uncles came here too. And they were all part of the team, like a sort of human chain taking stuff out of the castle as quickly as they could.” As William, 43, points to the areas that were destroyed, including St George’s Hall which they had just come through, Eugene notes that it must have been hard for a 10-year-old to comprehend. “When it’s on television you feel it’s a film, so it kind of doesn’t feel real,” William remembered. Eugene, 78, kicks off his visit at The Goring Hotel, and is delighted when he is invited to join the Prince of Wales at the quadrangle, Windsor Castle, at 10am the next day, laughing when the Prince turns up on an electric scooter in a bid to be on time, but failing because of a puncture. Once inside the castle, there are more laughs as the actor tells his royal guide he was prepared to buy a ticket for the regular tour. Insisting that his grasp of history is poor, William jokes: “You might still have to do that Eugene, my tour’s rubbish!” From the King’s drawing room, which overlooks Eton College, William recalls how he made regular visits to see his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II , while at school. “I’d come around and have a bit of tea with her because she had the best teas ever. So I used to get well fed,” he recalled. He said that his relationship with her, and with his grandfather Prince Philip , grew closer over the years. “My grandparents were of a different generation. 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.” For his own family, William says he and Catherine run their schedules around the children. “Most days we’re in and out of school doing pick-ups and drop offs,” he explained. “Getting the balance of work and family life right is really important because 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.” Revealing that none of his children are allowed a phone, he says they are instead encouraged to be sporty with Louie into trampolining, Charlotte enjoying netball and ballet and George loving football and hockey. “Keeping them busy with sports and being outdoors is really important,” he said. “They’re trying to learn musical instruments. I’m not sure how successful we’re being with that.” William claimed that the prospect of becoming king isn’t often in his thoughts – especially when it would mean the loss of his father. “Being authentic and being myself, and being genuine is what drives me,” he said. “If I’m not true to myself, and I’m not true to what I stand for and believe in – then it doesn’t really matter who you are, it gets lost. I take my roles and my responsibilities seriously but, it’s important you don’t feel they own you – you have to own them.” Eugene leaves the castle impressed, telling William: “I’m hoping every other prince I run into, is as nice open, and human as you.” Afterwards the actor reflects that the interview had been very different to what he’d expected. “The monarchy has always been so very formal, but with William, you didn’t get that at all,” he said. “He’s a dad who goes to work and then comes home and has dinner with his kids. He was so down to earth, very funny, very bright. Got to be honest, he was fun to hang with.” *The Reluctant Traveler: Living the Royal Life in the UK, Apple TV+ , released tomorrow Join The Mirror’s WhatsApp Community or follow us on Google News , Flipboard , Apple News, TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads – or visit The Mirror homepage.
