Prince William Fights Back Tears in Emotional Interview — Expert Thinks He’s ‘Suppressing Pain'
Prince William’s recent interview with Eugene Levy on The Reluctant Traveler saw him open up about his family life, future reign, and personal struggles. The usually private Prince of Wales did not hold back when describing how 2024 had been a challenging year for him, with King Charles and Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnoses coming just months apart. Analyzing William’s many emotional confessions in the interview, body language expert Judi James claimed that the Prince fought back tears, revealing his pain as he tried to ‘suppress’ his emotions.
In the interview, the Prince of Wales revealed that Middleton’s cancer recovery was ‘progressing in the right way’ while Charles continues with his treatment. Revisiting the day the diagnosis came, William said, "You... think to yourself, ‘It won’t happen to us, we’ll be okay.’ Because I think everyone has a positive outlook…But when it does happen to you, then it takes you into some pretty not great places." Reflecting on the same, James told the Daily Express, "His eyes look down a lot to protect and shield his inner feelings. But when he does look up, they are pink and watery, showing a hint of tears that he is clearly at pains to suppress."
Prince William has learned from past mistakes & recognises the need for boundaries with the media. As a public figure, he understands the necessity of working with them but firmly believes they don't require full access to his private life. #PrinceWilliam pic.twitter.com/aUJyq7ZxFc
— The British Prince (@freedom_007__) October 3, 2025
The body language expert also noted William's ‘wry smile of fondness’ when he mentioned the long life led by his grandparents. However, when speaking of Charles and Middleton, she argued the fears of ‘concern etched between his brows.’ She detailed, "He mimes the rug being ‘pulled from under your feet’ in what looks like an act of distraction because it’s here that the emotions threaten to overwhelm him. He strives to be seen as positive, tapping his index finger on the side of his forehead." James added that the Prince also choked a little as he scratched his beard in what she explains is 'another self-control ritual.’
William, during the sitdown, also spoke about how his children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, dealt with their mother’s diagnosis. He revealed, "Everyone has their own coping mechanisms… we try to make sure we give them the security and the safety that they need. And we’re a very open family, so we talk about things that bother us and things that trouble us, but you never quite know the knock-on effects that it can have." The Prince stressed that for him and Middleton, it was important to reassure their children that everything was going to be okay.
The Prince also acknowledged that the media scrutiny made it worse for him. While he accepted that criticism was a part of the job, he made it clear that he was determined to protect his family. "Trying to sort of balance protecting the children, Catherine, my father needs a bit of protection, but he’s, you know, he’s old enough to do that himself as well." He admitted that it was ‘tricky’ trying to find this balance in his royal duties while providing a safe space for his family.