In a remarkably candid conversation during his trip to Brazil, the Prince of Wales has opened up about the modern parenting challenges he and the Princess of Wales face, revealing that their decision to prevent their eldest son, Prince George, from having a smartphone has become "a little bit of a tense issue" within the family.
The Royal Stance on Technology and Parenting
Speaking to Brazilian broadcaster Luciano Huck while travelling on a cable car with the iconic Sugarloaf mountains as a backdrop, William discussed the firm technological boundaries they've established for their children. "Our children don't have phones," the future king stated plainly, acknowledging the difficulty of this position in today's digital age.
The Prince explained that while he might consider a basic mobile device without internet access when George moves to secondary school, he remains deeply concerned about online content. "I think children can access too much stuff they don't need to see online," William emphasised, suggesting that an old-style "brick phone" for simple text messaging would be acceptable.
Despite the tension this policy creates, the Prince of Wales noted that he and Catherine make a conscious effort to explain their reasoning to their children. "We communicate why we don't think it's right," he told Huck, who later shared their conversation with his 23 million Instagram followers on Monday 10th November 2025.
Balancing Royal Duties with Family Life
Beyond technology concerns, William offered a rare glimpse into the Wales family's daily routine, revealing that he and Catherine share school run responsibilities. "I'm the taxi driver, Luciano," he joked during their conversation in Rio de Janeiro, where he was staging his environmental Earthshot Prize.
The Prince detailed his hands-on approach to parenting, mentioning his involvement in "sports days, matches, playing in the garden, where I can." He acknowledged that while they share school run duties, "She probably does the bulk of it," referring to the Princess of Wales.
Navigating Family Challenges with Open Communication
When questioned by Huck about how his family has coped with recent difficulties, including both his father the King and his wife Catherine being diagnosed with cancer, William spoke thoughtfully about their approach to difficult conversations with their children.
"We choose to communicate a lot more with our children," he revealed, though he admitted this strategy has both positive and negative aspects. "Sometimes you feel you're oversharing with the children. You probably shouldn't, but most of the time, hiding stuff from them doesn't work."
The Prince of Wales acknowledged the universal struggle of parenting, noting that "there's no manual for being a parent. You've just got to go with a bit of instinct" when deciding how much information to share with children during challenging times.
Environmental Legacy for Future Generations
Looking toward the future, William reflected on the world he hopes to leave for Prince George when he eventually becomes king. The environmental advocate stressed that "all the social issues we want to deal with will start from actually our natural world," connecting his parenting concerns with his broader environmental mission through the Earthshot Prize.
He expressed his desire to pass on a world that he "would love to inherit when I was a child," emphasising the interconnectedness of environmental health with fundamental human needs like food production and housing.
During the same visit, Rio's city council president Carlo Caiado announced that William would be made an honorary citizen of Rio de Janeiro, recognising his "genuine commitment to humanitarian and environmental causes."
