Prince William Opens Up About Missing Queen Elizabeth at Windsor: ‘It’s Been Quite a Bit of Change'
Queen Elizabeth passed away peacefully on September 8, 2022, at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. She lived a long life, marked by unwavering dedication to the Crown and being a doting grandma to grand and great-grandchildren. Unsurprisingly, after her passing, Prince William has felt a deep void, particularly when visiting Windsor Castle, the Queen’s former residence. In a conversation with actor Eugene Levy, the Prince opened up about the same and reflected on her great legacy.
William made an appearance on Levy’s show, The Reluctant Traveler, which airs on October 3 on Apple TV. The feel-good show sees the Prince of Wales take Levy on a tour of Windsor Castle and later enjoying a pint of beer in a local pub. During the tour, when Levy asked if he remembered his grandmother, William reminisced, "I do miss my grandmother and my grandfather. It's been quite a bit of change, so you do sort of think about them not being here anymore, and particularly being in Windsor. For me, Windsor is her." He explained, "She spent most of her time here... She had her horses here as well, as you can imagine that was a big deal for her, so that's why she loved it here."
The Prince of Wales and his grandmother were incredibly close, with the late Queen teaching him the ropes as the future King. Reflecting on their bond, royal expert Robert Lacey told Grazia, "When William became a teenager, she [Elizabeth] would have him at Windsor Castle and would open the state boxes and guide him through the papers." After the Queen’s passing, in a public statement, William expressed his gratitude for all the memories he shared with her. It read, "And while I will grieve her loss, I also feel incredibly grateful. I have had the benefit of the Queen's wisdom and reassurance into my fifth decade. My wife has had twenty years of her guidance and support."
Earlier this month, William also spoke about his grandmother's legacy during a visit to the Women's Institute in Sunningdale on September 8, which coincided with the Queen’s third death anniversary. While speaking to the members, he gushed, "It's three years since my grandmother died, she was a big part of the WI, she used to talk about it a lot. This is the first time I’ve been and experienced the WI, so this is a huge honor for me."
As for his appearance on Levy’s show, William candidly also spoke about how 2024 was his most difficult year, because of King Charles and Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis. He shared, "I'd say 2024 was the hardest year I've ever had. You know, life is sent to test us as well, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are." The trailer for the show featured Levy’s invitation to Windsor, which was written on Kensington Palace paper, signed by the Prince.