It’s been almost three decades since Prince William lost his mother in a tragic car accident, but as anyone who’s ever lost a parent knows, her memory lives on. In fact, Britain’s future king says she’s been a constant presence in his life since that fateful day.

In Eugene Levy’s Apple TV+ show The Reluctant Traveler, the Prince of Wales opened up about royal family life behind closed doors, the one thing he misses the most about Queen Elizabeth and a lesson Princess Diana taught him about parenting long before he became a father himself.

Read on to find out how William is following in his mother’s footsteps when raising his kids, what his parents’ relationship taught him about his own marriage and how lessons from his childhood have shaped the man (and future monarch) he is today.

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What was Diana like as a parent?

Diana was a hands-on mom whose No. 1 priority in life was her kids. She created a loving and down-to-earth home, where William and Harry could be kids—not just senior royals.

In a documentary on British TV channel ITV, William described his mother as “very jolly” and “very informal,” revealing that “she really always enjoyed her times making a lot of mischief.” This, he added, included writing the princes “rude cards,” which William “didn’t dare to open” in school in case his classmates or teachers were watching.

Diana was also known to be quite the hugger and would never shy away from showing her kids affection, including in public, even if it went against the strict royal etiquette. She’d also occasionally take William and Harry out for fun—think McDonald’s for fries and burgers or a theme park—to give them a break from palace life.

Aside from providing fun, love and a (relatively) normal family life, the Princess of Wales also made sure the princes were well-prepared for what lay ahead of them. Knowing that William would be king one day, she kept a special eye on him throughout her lifetime. “She always understood that there was a real life outside of the palace walls,” William told Levy. “She gave us the right tools and has prepared us well for life.”

What did William learn from her about parenting?

From his mother, William learned the importance of always putting family first and ensuring his children, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte, have the best and most normal family life possible. “I think it’s really important that that atmosphere is created at home—the warmth, the feeling of safety, love, that all has to be there. That was certainly part of my childhood,” he told Levy.

Let’s remember for a second: From the moment William and Harry were born, Diana was by their side, including throughout and after her divorce. She spent a great deal of her time with them. She sent them to regular schools instead of, as was common at that time, hiring private tutors. She took them on vacation and tried to shield them as much as possible from the paparazzi. And even when she was away, there were regular phone calls: She happily chatted to them just hours before she died.

How does he apply those lessons to his life?

As William revealed in the “Living the Royal Life in the U.K.” episode of The Reluctant Traveler, he wants to give his kids a similar experience to the one his mother gave him as a child. Sharing small glimpses into his private life at Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Castle grounds, he talked about family dinners with lively chats and no phones (“we’re very strict about that”) and the kids’ favorite—and very normal—leisure activities: “Louis loves the trampoline … Charlotte does netball and ballet … and George loves his football, his hockey.”

The prince makes sure he’s always a hands-on parent to his kids, just like Diana was to him. What does that mean on a daily basis? He says he’ll “try and stick to school timetables as best as possible,” dropping his kids off at school and generally being involved in their lives. This could mean everything from helping them with their school work to taking them to see (and meet!) their idol, Taylor Swift, at Wembley Stadium or cheering on their favorite soccer team, Aston Villa, at the Champions League in Paris.

George, Louis and Charlotte all go to normal schools. And during breaks, their parents take them to Scotland for hiking adventures or on a ski vacation in Switzerland—very similar to what Diana did with William and Harry.

How does that lesson influence his relationship with Kate and the kids?

The prince says his family is always his No. 1 thought and priority, and they influence everything he does. Unlike royals of the past, who would take off for months on foreign trips, leaving their kids back home with nannies, William considers himself a real family man, keen to spend most of his time at home.

“Everything is about the future,” he said in the interview with Levy. “If you don’t start the children off now with a happy, healthy, stable home, I feel you’re setting them up for a bit of a hard time. It’s about making sure we can look after our family, our children, in a way that we feel is best for their future.”

Naturally, the same applies to William’s relationship with Princess Kate. The prince has been a rock for his wife for more than two decades, including during her recent cancer journey. When out and about in public, the tight-knit five-piece seems happy and inseparable, making us almost forget they aren’t a regular family but some of the most high-profile (and richest) people in the world.

What else did William learn from his childhood?

If there’s one thing the prince took away from his past, it’s to avoid divorce at all costs. Having lived through Charles and Diana’s messy separation drama at just 8 years old (which included Charles’s revelation on national television that he had cheated on Diana with the now Queen Camilla), it’s unsurprising that William is keen to never put his kids through a similar situation.

“You take that, and you learn from it, and you try and make sure you don’t do the same mistakes as your parents,” the Prince of Wales told Levy. “I think we all try and do that, and I just want to do what’s best for my children, but I know that the drama and the stress when you’re small really affects you when you’re older.”

The signs seem to be in the prince’s favor: William and Kate have been inseparable since the early 2000s, when they met at St. Andrews University in Scotland, and happily married since April 2011.

Another lesson learned from the past: Make sure the media doesn’t interfere too much with your private life. When Diana died, William was just 15 and Harry 12. Compounding the pain of the tragedy, the press that had chased her until her last breath continued to follow every step of the grieving kids. Just like his estranged brother, Harry, William has always set boundaries as an adult.

“Growing up … the media were so insatiable. It’s hard to think of it now, but they were much more insatiable,” he told Levy. “They wanted every bit of detail they could absorb, and they were in everything, literally everywhere.”

William added that while he “enjoys his job,” the attention that comes with it makes life “a bit harder.” That was certainly the case with Kate’s recent health challenges. “It’s just making sure that that doesn’t overtake and intrude at times when you want a bit of space and peace,” he noted.

Does all of this impact his job as prince and future monarch?

For sure! William has grown into a royal who puts his family first and his job second. This means he arranges his schedule around the kids and Kate, and he’s more selective about the engagements he takes on. And as we saw when Kate was diagnosed with cancer, he’ll even cancel public appearances at the last minute to be with his loved ones.

It also means he’s ensuring that George, second in line to the throne, is well-prepared for the role and future that lies ahead of him. “Obviously, I want to create a world in which my son is proud of what we do, a world and a job that actually impacts people’s lives for the better,” William said on The Reluctant Traveler.

He added that, when the time comes, “change is on my agenda,” and he’s ready to embrace it. “I enjoy that; I don’t fear that,” he said. “The bit that excites me is to be able to bring some change, not overly radical change but changes I think need to happen.”

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Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of stories on the British royal family, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating facets of the monarchy. We regularly cover topics including the latest royal news, the history and meaning behind time-honored traditions, and the everyday quirks of everyone’s favorite family members, from Queen Elizabeth’s daily snack to Prince William’s confessions about his home life. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. For this piece, Astrid Hofer tapped her experience as a London-based journalist with more than 20 years of experience covering topics including the British royal family. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.

Sources:

• The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy: Living the Royal Life in the UK
• ITV News: “William and Harry: The moment we heard our mother’s voice for the last time”
• ABC News: “William and Harry share most intimate memories of life with Princess Diana”
• BBC: “William and Harry regret last ‘rushed’ call with Diana”
• BBC: “The life of Diana, Princess of Wales 1961-1997”
• BBC: “Hey, can we have a picture? Taylor gets selfie with the royals”
• BBC: “William takes son George to watch Villa in Paris”