Prince William’s brief turn on Eugene Levy’s “The Reluctant Traveler” has stirred chatter about how he grew up with Prince Harry — and why their bond wore out. In the episode, William reflects on Prince George’s future and hints at lessons from his own childhood. Royal insiders revealed that they witnessed their parents’ public fights, and consequently felt exposed and alone. That strain still echoes today.
Prince William and Prince Harry’s unstable childhood has a lot to do with their present, says expert
Talking about Prince Harry and Prince William, British broadcaster Helena Chard told Fox News Digital, “William and Harry experienced a broken family unit, with their parents embroiled in constant, destructive battles.” She added, “On occasion, William and Harry felt unsupported, lonely and insecure, leading to sibling rivalry.” Moreover, “Prince William comforted his mother at times, attempting to ease her insecurities and sadness. This was a heavy burden for a young Prince William.”
William spoke about preparing George for what lies ahead. PEOPLE quoted him: “I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do.” He added, “I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past, that Harry and I had to grow up in — and I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation.”
Royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital the “practices” William referenced had to do with the turmoil around their parents’ split. Fordwich said, “As a little boy, William was outside the bathroom when his mother was weeping inside.” Furthermore, Richard Fitzwilliams noted, “It was obviously difficult for William growing up, especially when the battle between his parents played out so publicly.”
William also admitted, “2024 was the hardest year that I’ve ever had.” He continued, “it’s important my family feels protected,” closing with, “We all have challenges that come our way, and it’s important to keep going.”
Hence, according to the experts, a childhood shaped by conflict fuels Prince William’s explains his distance from Harry.
