Few places hold the kind of emotional gravity for Prince William as Windsor Castle. Surrounded by history, memories, and the quiet echo of tradition, the royal residence remains a place of deep personal reflection for the Prince. In a recent media project, Prince William opened up about his deep connection to Windsor and the cherished memories it holds of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
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In a heartfelt moment captured in an upcoming episode of Apple TV+'s The Reluctant Traveler, the Prince of Wales reflects on the loss of both the Queen and Prince Philip, while also revealing how Windsor Castle serves as a lasting symbol of his grandmother's enduring presence.
Remembering Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor
In a preview clip for the new episode of The Reluctant Traveler titled 'Living the Royal Life in the U.K.,' host Eugene Levy sits down with Prince William inside Windsor Castle for an open conversation. When asked:
Do you miss your grandmother?
The Prince replied:
I do actually, yeah. I do miss my grandmother and my grandfather.
The Prince of Wales, 43, reflected on the emotional impact of their absence and added:
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.
Sharing why the late Queen had a great affection for Windsor, he said:
She loved it here; she spent most of her time here. 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.
He also stated how significant the Windsor grounds were to Queen Elizabeth, particularly because of her horses. He shared:
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.
The Queen, who passed away in 2022 at the age of 96, is also buried at St. George’s Chapel within the castle's grounds.
These reflections come at a time of change for the Prince and his family — a change that includes a fresh start just a stone's throw away.
William and Kate’s new Windsor chapter
Prince William and Princess Kate, along with their children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — moved from London to Adelaide Cottage near Windsor in 2022.
Now, the family is preparing for another move to Forest Lodge, a spacious eight-bedroom property in Windsor Great Park, set to become their permanent residence later this year. A source told The Sun:
Windsor has become their home.
Moving gives them an opportunity for a fresh start and a new chapter; an opportunity to leave some of the more unhappy memories behind.
The past year has been particularly difficult for the royal couple, with 2024 described as their 'hardest year' due to Princess Kate's health. Speaking about the challenges, William told Levy:
I’d say ’23-’24 was the hardest year I’ve ever had. You know, life is sent to test us and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are.
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Sources used:
Page Six: Prince William gets emotional about Queen Elizabeth’s death in poignant trip to Windsor Castle
People: Prince William Gets Emotional Talking About Missing Queen Elizabeth: 'It's Been Quite a Change’
