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Prince William Reveals How He Really Feels About Becoming King, Teases Major Monarchy Shake-Up

In an interview with Eugene Levy, Prince William emphasized that authenticity and genuineness help him fulfill his royal duties well.

As heir to the throne, Prince William has long been preparing for the immense responsibilities and pressure that await him when he's King. Ready to build his own legacy, he has envisioned a ‘modern monarchy,’ one that embraces progress alongside honoring royal traditions. In a candid interview with Eugene Levy, William offered rare insight into what his reign would look like, revealing that genuineness and authenticity guide him through the pressures of royal life. He also spoke about the importance of embracing healthy change as a key part of his vision.

In an episode of The Reluctant Traveler, William delved into deep conversations about his life while giving Levy a tour of Windsor Castle. During the segment, Levy asked the Prince, "You will one day be King of England. Do you think about that at all?" William confidently replied: "It’s not something I wake up in the morning and think about, because to me, being authentic and being myself and being genuine is what drives me." He continued, "And then you can attach whatever labels and kind of roles that come on top of that, but if I’m not true to myself, and I’m not true to what I stand for and believe in, then it doesn’t really matter who you are, it gets lost."

Levy also asked the future King whether the monarchy would shift in a ‘slightly different direction’ under his leadership. William responded, "I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda. Change for good. And I embrace that and I enjoy that change — I don’t fear it." Speaking about how he plans to blend contemporary values with tradition, he added, "That’s the bit that excites me — is the idea of being able to bring some change. Not overly radical change, but changes that I think need to happen."

Reflecting further on the future of the monarchy, the Prince of Wales candidly opened up about his feelings regarding his son, Prince George, succeeding him on the throne. He stressed, "Obviously, I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do, a world and a job that actually does impact people’s lives for the better." He also hoped that his son wouldn't have to face some of the 'practices of the past' that he and Prince Harry had to grow up with. He stressed that he would do everything to ensure that George doesn't 'regress in that situation.'

This isn't the first time William has spoken about his vision for the throne and hinted at change. Shortly after his trip to Africa in 2024, he told reporters that the pomp and protocol associated with royal life simply do not agree with his values. He explained, "I’m going to throw empathy in there… And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world." Commenting on his upcoming monarchy shake-ups, a source also told The Telegraph that rather than ribbon-cutting, the Prince wants to focus on raising money for local communities and creating change. Reportedly, he also wishes to focus on a smaller number of key organizations than his predecessors.