Prince William on Queen Elizabeth: Memories of his beloved grandmother

Prince William opened up about family, grief, and resilience in a moving preview of Apple TV+’s The Reluctant Traveler.

The Prince of Wales shared with the host Eugene Levy inside Windsor Castle the touching memories of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, and reflected on some of the hardest years of his life.

Here are the biggest moments from William’s candid conversation:

1. He deeply misses his grandparents

When Eugene Levy, asked Prince William if he missed his grandmother, the answer came without hesitation. “I do actually, yeah. I do miss my grandmother and my grandfather,” William said, referencing Queen Elizabeth.

2. Windsor will always be “Her”

For William, Windsor Castle is inseparable from his grandmother’s memory.

“It’s been quite a bit of change, so you do sort of, you think about them not being here anymore and particularly being in Windsor, for me Windsor is her,” he shared.

He added that guiding Levy around was his way of honouring her, “Showing you around today is very much a case of trying to make sure I’m doing it in the way she’d want you to see it.”

3. Queen Elizabeth’s love for horses lives on at Windsor

William fondly recalled how Windsor was not just a residence but a place of passion for his grandmother.

“She had her horses here as well, as you can imagine was a big deal for her, so that’s why she loved it here,” he said. Horses were central to Queen Elizabeth’s life, making Windsor her sanctuary in her later years.

4. The Wales family has put down roots in Windsor too

In 2022, Prince William and Princess Kate made the decision to move to what they call their “forever” home, Forest Lodge. The move signifies their intent to anchor their lives in the place Queen Elizabeth loved most.

5. William calls the past year his hardest yet

Beyond memories of his grandmother, William also reflected on the difficulties of recent years, including both Kate Middleton and King Charles announcing cancer diagnoses.

“I’d say ‘23-’24 was the hardest year I’ve ever had,” the Prince of Wales admitted. “You know, life is sent to test us and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are.”