Prince William vows to bring ‘change’ to monarchy when he becomes king

“Change for good, and I embrace that, I enjoy that change. I don’t fear it... not overly radical, but changes that I think need to happen,” he says

Prince William has indicated that reform will be a central part of his reign when he eventually becomes king.

The Prince of Wales spoke candidly with actor Eugene Levy during the filming of a new Apple TV+ programme The Reluctant Traveller at Windsor. Palace sources described the exchange as among the most open interviews he has given to date, the BBC reports.

Asked about his future as monarch, William made clear he intends to introduce changes to the institution.

“I think it’s safe to say that change is on my agenda,” he said.

“Change for good, and I embrace that, I enjoy that change. I don’t fear it... not overly radical, but changes that I think need to happen.”

William arrived to meet the actor on an electric scooter, which he explained was his way of getting around the vast castle grounds.

During a tour of Windsor Castle’s state rooms, the prince reflected on the role of heritage.

“If you’re not careful, history can be a real weight and an anchor around you,” he said, warning it could be suffocating. Instead, he emphasised the importance of living “for the here and now”.

William stressed that tradition matters, but added that it should not prevent scrutiny or adaptation.

“There are points when you look at tradition and go, is that still fit for purpose today? … I like to question things, is what I’m really getting at.”

The discussion moved beyond official duties as the pair walked the family dog Orla around the grounds. Topics ranged from football -- with William being a devoted Aston Villa supporter -- to family life and the challenge of dealing with public scrutiny.

Reflecting on his father King Charles and his wife Catherine, both undergoing treatment for cancer, William said: “Stuff to do with family overwhelms me, quite a bit. You know, worry or stress around the family side of things --that does overwhelm me quite a bit.”

The interview notably avoided the current state of relations with his brother Prince Harry. But William did reference their shared past, saying: “I hope we don’t go back to some of the practices in the past that Harry and I grew up in. And I’ll do everything I can to make sure we don’t regress in that situation.”