He will eventually inherit one of the most high-profile jobs in the world. But as far as future king Prince William is concerned, he’s already doing the most important role he’ll ever tackle: being a dad.
And he’s applying the lessons he learned from his parents to raising his own children.
Since becoming a dad 13 years ago, William has prioritised spending as much time as possible with Prince George, 13, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight.
His late mother, Princess Diana, was very hands-on and loving, and spent a lot of time with her boys.
His father, King Charles, was considered the less involved parent because of his very heavy workload and was not as publicly affectionate as Diana.
William’s promise to his children
While William has never been openly critical of his father for being remote – either physically or emotionally – he has spoken about wanting to be deeply involved in his children’s lives, even if that means putting work second.
“Getting the balance of work and family life right is really important,” he says.
“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. I just want to do what’s best for my children.”
William’s brother Prince Harry, 41, claimed in his memoir Spare that his father didn’t show much affection, writing, “Pa didn’t hug me.”
He went on to say Charles had “always given an air of being not quite ready for parenthood, the responsibilities, the patience, the time”.
Behind the palace walls
This has been refuted by those with behind-the-scenes knowledge of royal life, including biographer Penny Junor. She says in private, when the boys were younger, Charles would not only tease, laugh and joke with his sons, but there would be “rough and tumble, and even hugs and kisses”.
After George was born, William, 44, described becoming a father as “one of the most amazing moments of life, but also one of the scariest”.
He was also candid about the emotions it stirred up.
“I think when you’ve been through something traumatic in life… like your dad not being around, my mother dying when I was younger… the emotions come back in leaps and bounds.”
A generation of royal fathers
Experts believe William and the Princess of Wales are doing a wonderful job of juggling their royal duties with raising a family, and their determination to be around as much as possible makes a big difference.
Parenting expert Rachel Fitz-Desorgher says William understands the importance of giving time and energy to children, day in and out, unlike previous generations where fathers had more of a backseat role. The King, 77, and his late-father Prince Philip shouldn’t be judged for being products of the “spare the rod and spoil the child” theory of child-rearing, she says, but William shows things have moved on.
“We should celebrate that times are changing, and a warm and involved relationship with a father who makes time for his kids is now seen as important as that with a mother.”
Keeping his children in the loop
William has not only made a habit of playing games with his kids and openly showing affection, but he also makes it a point to always be honest with them, even when it comes to the tough stuff.
When Catherine, 44, was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 and underwent chemotherapy, the couple was open with George, Charlotte and Louis about what was happening.
“We choose to communicate a lot more with our children, and that has its good things and its bad things,” William has since said.
“Sometimes you feel you’re oversharing and you probably shouldn’t. But most of the time, hiding stuff from them doesn’t work.”
A new chapter for William as a father
As traumatic as Catherine’s cancer experience was for them all, it helped bring the family closer, strengthening William’s bond with the kids because he did so much for them when their mum was sick.
“They were already close, but he became even more confident and stronger in his role as dad,” says a palace source.
“It’s reassuring for Catherine to know the kids will always have a loving, compassionate and caring relationship with their father.”
