Prince William looks back at his and Prince Harry’s past and vows to protect George

Prince William says he is determined to protect Prince George from the challenges that he and his brother Prince Harry endured growing up.

In a rare television appearance in Eugene Levy’s Apple TV+ Travel series The Recroctant Traveller, the 43-year-old Prince of Wales opened on the October 3rd episode about his eldest son’s future and his own legacy.

When asked about George one day, William said that the “big question” begins in the kind of world he wants to shape.

“It’s an interesting question, and it’s a big question, because there’s a lot to think about it, but obviously I want to create a world where my son is proud of what we’re doing.

“It’s been warned. I hope we don’t go back to some of the past practices. Harry and I have had to grow up, and we will do everything we can to ensure that we don’t regress in that situation,” Prince William continued.

The Prince of Wales and his wife, Kate Middleton, are the parents of Prince George, Princess Charlotte, 10 and 7 years old.

This comment marked William’s only mention of his estranged brother in the episode, and one of the rare occasions he has spoken about him in recent years.

The rift between King Charles’ sons was revealed in 2020 when Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan Markle, retreated from British royal duties and moved to the United States.

The relationship between the Royal Brothers remains tense, but Harry told the BBC in May that he “loves reconciliation with my family” and met the king in London in September.

Prince William also revealed how his parents’ disrupted marriage and ultimate divorce shaped the way he raised his children.

When asked by Eugene Levy about his desire to have a “relatively normal family life,” William said it “definitely” began with his late mother, Princess Diana.

“I think it’s really important that that atmosphere is made at home. You need to have that warmth, safety, safety and love,” he said. “It all had to be there and it was certainly part of my childhood. My parents divorced at 8am, so it lasted for a short period of time.”

“You take it, you learn from it, and you try to make sure you don’t make the same mistakes as your parents,” added William. “I think we’re all trying to do that and we just want to do the best for our kids, but I know that the drama and stress of when you’re small really affects you when you’re older.”

Prince William also described 2024 as the “hardest year” of his life, providing an unusual health update to his father, Sovereign and wife, Kate Middleton, during his meeting with Levy.

It was announced in early 2024 that Wang, 76, and Princess Wales (43), had been diagnosed with cancer and had begun treatment. The monarch’s treatment continued this year, saying Princess Kate completed chemotherapy in September and announced she was in remission in January.

“Your wife and father were sick last year. What about things first?” Levy asked William about his family.

“Yes, things are good. Everything is progressing in the right way. This is all good news,” William shared.

“But I think 2024 was the most difficult year I’ve ever had,” he said. “It takes a bit of protection to try and protect my dad, Katherine, but he’s old enough to do it on his own. But it’s important that my family feels protected and have the space to handle the many things that I did last year.

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“But you know, we all have challenges that come our path and it’s important to continue,” the heir to the throne said.

The Recroctant Traveller episode of Prince William is streamed on Apple TV+.