Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Children Don’t Use Cell Phones
Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton’s children may hold royal titles, but they certainly aren’t spoiled in every aspect of their lives.
In episode 4 of Eugene Levy’s upcoming Apple TV+ series, The Reluctant Traveler — set to premiere on Friday, October 3 — the Prince of Wales, 43, opened up to Levy about his family’s values at home. William shared that Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, are not allowed to use cell phones.
“Do you all sit down at the dinner table together?” Levy, 78, inquired. William replied, “Yep, absolutely. We sit and chat; it’s really important. None of our children have any phones, which we’re very strict about.”
Levy appeared taken aback by this, asking William what his children do for fun without smartphones.
“Louis loves the trampoline; he’s obsessed with it, and actually, Charlotte enjoys it a lot too,” William explained. “Most of the time, they just jump up and down on the trampoline, play-fighting. Apparently, there’s an art to it. Charlotte also plays netball and practices ballet, so keeping them active through sports and outdoor play is vital. They’re trying to learn musical instruments, but I’m not sure how successful we’ve been. George is a big fan of football and hockey.”
While touring Windsor Castle, William mentioned he sometimes brings the kids to St George’s Hall to run around “after hours.”
“My cousins and I used to chase each other around here and play silly games,” he reminisced. “I recall the carpets weren’t here back then, and there were spots where you had to be cautious because you could get massive splinters from the old wooden floor … It was a really dark oak floor. If you ran off, you might end up with a huge splinter.”
William demonstrated the size of one of those splinters with his hands, saying, “Everyone would be like, ‘Stop! Stop!’ Because someone would end up with a splinter that big in their foot.”
He added, “Now, it’s a lot easier. My children don’t realize how fortunate they are with this big carpet to run on, free of splinters. We come in after hours and chase each other around sometimes.”
William emphasized that family is “the most important thing” in his life, despite being the heir to the British throne. Picking up and dropping off his kids at school holds as much significance for him as attending royal engagements.
“Getting the balance of work and family life right is crucial because, for me, family is the top priority. Everything is about the future, and if you don’t start your children off with a happy, healthy, stable home, you risk setting them up for struggles later on,” he shared with Levy. “It’s about ensuring we care for our families and children in a way that secures their future.”
Levy noted that William and his brother, Prince Harry, appeared to have a “relatively normal home life” with their mother, the late Princess Diana, who tragically passed away in August 1997.
“Yes, definitely,” William concurred. “Creating that atmosphere at home is really important. You need warmth, security, and love. That was certainly part of my childhood. My parents divorced when I was 8, which was a brief period, but you learn from that and aim not to repeat your parents’ mistakes.”
He continued, “We all strive to do what’s best for our children, but I know that stress during childhood can affect you later on.”
Regarding his reportedly strained relationship with Harry, 41, William mentioned that topics related to family “overwhelm” him “quite a bit.”
“However, when it comes to my job and related responsibilities, I don’t feel too overwhelmed — not right now, anyway,” he said. “In my younger years, there were moments of feeling overwhelmed, thinking, ‘Wow, are we actually doing this?’ But with age, you feel more settled.”
He added, “Family matters are what really overwhelm me, as I think is natural for most people; it’s more personal and can disrupt your sense of normalcy.”
William also spoke about King Charles III and Kate’s recent battles with cancer, detailing how George, Charlotte, and Louis have coped with their diagnoses and treatments, as well as Kate’s remission.
“Everyone has their own ways of coping with these things, and children are always learning and adapting,” William noted. “We strive to provide them the security and safety they need. We’re a very open family, discussing what troubles us, but you never can fully gauge the repercussions. It’s essential to be there for one another and reassure the children that everything is okay.”
For now, William mentioned, “things are going well” with Kate’s recovery and “everything is progressing positively.” (She announced her cancer went into remission in January.)
“I’d say that 2024 was the hardest year I’ve ever faced,” reflected the Prince of Wales. “It was challenging to balance protecting the children, Catherine, and my father—who can manage on his own—while ensuring my family feels secure and has the space to process everything from last year. It was tricky to navigate this and continue fulfilling my duties. Yet, we all face challenges, and it’s essential to keep moving forward.”
