Prince William and Duchess Kate do not give their children mobile phones, leading to a very “tense issue” between them and their eldest son, Prince George.
The Prince of Wales admitted it is “really difficult” to protect children from the harms of social media and the internet, while speaking to Brazilian TV presenter Luciano Huck, who recently traveled to the Earthshot Awards ceremony.
“And to be honest, it’s gotten to the point where it’s a bit of a tense issue,” he confessed.
“But I think he understands why,” William said of 12-year-old George.
“We tell them why we don’t think it’s right. And, again, I think it’s internet access that we have a problem with. I think kids can have too much access to things online that they don’t need to see. So having a phone call and texting, a kind of old-fashioned ‘brick phone,’ I think that’s fine.”
There may be light at the end of the tunnel for the pre-teen, as Prince William teased that “when George gets to secondary school, he might have a mobile phone with no internet access.”
During the interview, Prince William, 43, also gave a glimpse into his family life with Middleton and their children George, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
He jokes that he is his three children’s “taxi driver,” taking them to playdates, sporting events, and even their school runs.
When asked if he often drops children at school, William replied, “Oh, yeah.” “School is in session most days, so Katherine and I share that. She probably does most of the work.”
The heir to the British throne also opened up about the “challenge” of telling his young children about Middleton’s cancer diagnosis.
“I think how you deal with these issues is very personal and, in a way, moment-dependent,” William said.
The philanthropist said he and his wife, also 43, had “chosen to communicate more” with their children, but he questioned whether it was the right decision.
“There are good and bad sides to that,” the prince explained. “Sometimes I feel like I share too much (stuff) with my kids that I shouldn’t.”
However, he clarified that “most of the time, hiding something from them doesn’t work. . . . There are no answers, but more questions arise.”
“There’s no manual for being a parent,” William continued. “You just go with your instincts.”
Middleton announced her cancer diagnosis in March 2024, two months after she was hospitalized for abdominal surgery and took a step back from royal duties.
In September 2024, the Princess of Wales completed “incredibly grueling” cancer treatment.
Earlier this year, she announced that she was in remission and would “continue to focus on her recovery” while adjusting to a “new normal.”
