It takes major PR stagecraft to make royalty look relatable, but the Prince and Princess of Wales seem to have mastered the playbook at this point. They’ve had a busy year, from spearheading mental health initiatives to the dazzling diplomacy of state visits and high-visibility moments at Wimbledon. Their campaigns have consistently shown a royal couple that understands the power of perception: stately in form for the crown, human in tone for the people.
All the well-executed choreography is punctuated by Prince William’s latest appearance in a charmingly candid episode of Apple TV’s The Reluctant Traveler, featuring Eugene Levy.
You’re not alone in holding disbelief at the rarity of this. Prince William is hardly untouchable… but seeing him go full casual in an AppleTV travel series? Totally unexpected. Hearing the heir to the British crown admit that he’s thoroughly enjoyed all of the American Pie movies is certainly a sign that we’re in a different era of monarchy.
Opening his segment at the Windsor Castle, Prince William rides in on a scooter and jokes about being late. He takes Levy on a tour of the castle halls, tells heartwarming stories of his childhood, recalls the painful events of the 1992 fire, and fondly reminisces about his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. Then, Levy and the Prince stroll through the castle grounds as the latter talks about keeping the traditions of a 1000-year-old institution while balancing the realities of fatherhood and family life, sprinkling friendly humor in between.
The brilliance of this approach lies not in what William says, but in where and how he says it. “I want to question things,” he repeats throughout the episode. It is a recurring motif that lands softly but purposefully. He wants change, but he is not about to go full Harry. He respects tradition, but he is clearly neither his grandmother nor his father. He is a different monarch altogether: one shaped by the digital age, and aware that authenticity now carries as much weight as ancestry.
Where’s Princess Kate?
Catherine, Princess of Wales, is notably, and no doubt strategically, absent from the episode. For years, she has been painted as the face that keeps the monarchy relevant. But William’s solo appearance strengthens his image as a future king who can hold his own. The Princess is arguably the best part of William’s public image, but unlike Diana, she doesn’t try to compete.
Princess Catherine has always shown deep respect for royal protocol. While she is warm and does not shy away from a heartfelt chat with waving subjects along the sidewalk, she does maintain the golden rule in royal appearances: be gracious, but be brief. A cameo in a TV show will have been too gratuitous. But don’t take my word for it. I might be speaking too soon.
A Pint with the Prince
The visual balance of the piece is near-perfect. After the castle tour, Prince William and Levy settle into a dimly-lit booth of a pub called The Two Brewers.
The pub setting is as calculated as any Buckingham Palace balcony wave, but not at all forced. Weaving through a small group of customers, William finds his way to the bar and places his order. Then he sits down and continues the chat with Levy. It wasn’t Oprah’s fluffy sofas or a cinematic confessional on Netflix. Just his two cents over a pint.
This format softens William and is an absolute chef’s kiss moment. It places him among people rather than above them, much like Tony Blair’s pub diplomacy and the human candor that once made Princess Diana’s interviews so disarming. It was authentic and tasteful. King Charles can only wish to look as cool.
A Lesson for the Sussexes
It is almost too easy to compare this campaign to the Sussex playbook, with Harry and Meghan providing so much content for the study.
For one thing, the Prince of Wales was not about to turn this into The William Show, a tactic we see too much from the Sussexes.
I had my fears that the conversation might be too careful; too safe. Nothing but another cute performance that reveals nothing. Instead, William talks about Princess Catherine’s cancer remission and his true thoughts of what the future holds for the royal family.
Alcoholic beverages notwithstanding, it was a sober conversation. There was no need to point out and blow up drama that the public only vaguely knows about. No insider scoop. No satisfaction for the tabloids. In Levy’s program, William is but a short segment. A side conversation, not the centerpiece. That restraint on celebrity conveys self-assurance without spectacle, and it sends the right message: I’m up next for the Crown, but none of that is about me.
A Masterful Delivery
The interview itself was not dramatic. In truth, William didn’t give answers he wasn’t expected to give. The choice of platform was wise and the execution was thoughtful. The segment is short, almost unassuming, yet it delivers what the royal institution has been trying to do for years: staying relevant without overexposure.
In choosing a travel show over a primetime exclusive, William may have just cracked the royal code for the streaming age. It is monarchy with a filter of humility and a complete understanding of the modern audience.
For all the centuries of spectacle that define the British throne, Prince William’s performance here is one of restraint. Instead of overhauling the narrative, he simply adjusts the lens. He questions tradition, without rejecting their roots. It is a balancing act very few monarchs have managed, but there’s a rare sense that the Crown, at last, might be inching closer to the people it represents. ●
