Prince William admits to this 'tense issue' with his kids, might buy son a 'brick phone'
- - Prince William admits to this 'tense issue' with his kids, might buy son a 'brick phone'
KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY November 11, 2025 at 1:04 AM
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Even Prince William doesn't have all the answers when it comes to parenting.
The 43-year-old father of three, who is first in line to the throne in Britain, opened up about the candid conversations he and wife Princess Kate have with their kids George, 12, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, 7, about everything from social media to their mother's health following her cancer diagnosis.
While in Rio de Janeiro for his Nov. 5 Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony, William was asked by Brazilian journalist Luciano Huck in an interview about how he and Kate have communicated with their children amid a difficult few years with King Charles' and Kate's cancer battles.
"We choose to communicate a lot more with our children. That has its good things and its bad things," William replied. "Sometimes you feel you're oversharing with your children and probably shouldn't. But most of the time, hiding stuff from them doesn't work."
Prince William arrived for his annual Earthshot Prize on Wednesday, Nov. 5, welcoming celebrities like Brazilian singers Seu Jorge and Anitta, and singer-songwriters Shawn Mendes and Kylie Minogue.The Duke of Cambridge's awards show, celebrating innovative global environmental solutions, was held at Rio's Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for its 5th year.
" style=padding-bottom:56%>Prince William arrived for his annual Earthshot Prize on Wednesday, Nov. 5, welcoming celebrities like Brazilian singers Seu Jorge and Anitta, and singer-songwriters Shawn Mendes and Kylie Minogue.The Duke of Cambridge's awards show, celebrating innovative global environmental solutions, was held at Rio's Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for its 5th year.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/X5viBF8Z9s.cPWcSKJsDcg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/00c7ef2b77ea0bba17c43d9ab4eb5ec4 class=caas-img data-headline="Shawn Mendes, Kylie Minogue and Anitta attend Prince William’s Earthshot Prize in Brazil" data-caption="
Prince William arrived for his annual Earthshot Prize on Wednesday, Nov. 5, welcoming celebrities like Brazilian singers Seu Jorge and Anitta, and singer-songwriters Shawn Mendes and Kylie Minogue.The Duke of Cambridge's awards show, celebrating innovative global environmental solutions, was held at Rio's Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for its 5th year.
">Prince William arrived for his annual Earthshot Prize on Wednesday, Nov. 5, welcoming celebrities like Brazilian singers Seu Jorge and Anitta, and singer-songwriters Shawn Mendes and Kylie Minogue.The Duke of Cambridge's awards show, celebrating innovative global environmental solutions, was held at Rio's Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for its 5th year.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/X5viBF8Z9s.cPWcSKJsDcg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/00c7ef2b77ea0bba17c43d9ab4eb5ec4 class=caas-img>Prince William gestures next to Brazilian singers Seu Jorge and Anitta upon arrival at the Earthshot Prize 2025.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1NQ86Ujsoh0ePOIiuW3cXA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/131cbe4a2d513db9480b886e750002e1 class=caas-img data-headline="Shawn Mendes, Kylie Minogue and Anitta attend Prince William’s Earthshot Prize in Brazil" data-caption="
Prince William gestures next to Brazilian singers Seu Jorge and Anitta upon arrival at the Earthshot Prize 2025.
">Prince William gestures next to Brazilian singers Seu Jorge and Anitta upon arrival at the Earthshot Prize 2025.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/1NQ86Ujsoh0ePOIiuW3cXA--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04Mjg-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/131cbe4a2d513db9480b886e750002e1 class=caas-img>Prince William speaks with singer Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes next to Brazilian singer Seu Jorge upon their arrival at the Earthshot Prize 2025.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/tjOv1AbnBv1a5kLRMn2tLg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NTA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/835207db5e9648408483a1a8c1b8bf3a class=caas-img data-headline="Shawn Mendes, Kylie Minogue and Anitta attend Prince William’s Earthshot Prize in Brazil" data-caption="
Prince William speaks with singer Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes next to Brazilian singer Seu Jorge upon their arrival at the Earthshot Prize 2025.
">Prince William speaks with singer Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes next to Brazilian singer Seu Jorge upon their arrival at the Earthshot Prize 2025.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/tjOv1AbnBv1a5kLRMn2tLg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD04NTA-/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/835207db5e9648408483a1a8c1b8bf3a class=caas-img>Prince William poses for a picture with Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes upon their arrival at the Earthshot Prize 2025.
" data-src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/mnksL1RvxUO2ZWExO2UUCQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODY0/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/7c74090cec307efac1d404fbc206a081 class=caas-img data-headline="Shawn Mendes, Kylie Minogue and Anitta attend Prince William’s Earthshot Prize in Brazil" data-caption="
Prince William poses for a picture with Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes upon their arrival at the Earthshot Prize 2025.
">Prince William poses for a picture with Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes upon their arrival at the Earthshot Prize 2025.
" src=https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/mnksL1RvxUO2ZWExO2UUCQ--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyNDI7aD0xODY0/https://media.zenfs.com/en/usa_today_slideshows_242/7c74090cec307efac1d404fbc206a081 class=caas-img>
1 / 4Shawn Mendes, Kylie Minogue and Anitta attend Prince William’s Earthshot Prize in Brazil
Prince William arrived for his annual Earthshot Prize on Wednesday, Nov. 5, welcoming celebrities like Brazilian singers Seu Jorge and Anitta, and singer-songwriters Shawn Mendes and Kylie Minogue.The Duke of Cambridge's awards show, celebrating innovative global environmental solutions, was held at Rio's Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for its 5th year.
The Prince of Wales explained that he and Kate talk through emotions with their children to help them explore their feelings. This, he said, "helps give them a bigger picture, and they can relax more into it rather than being anxious about 'What are you hiding? What do I not know? Why is that happening?'"
He continued, "There's a lot more questions when there are no answers. It's always a balancing act; every parent knows that. It's 'How much do I say? What do I say? When do I say?' There's no manual for being a parent. You've just got to go with your instincts."
In January, Kate announced with "relief" that her cancer was in remission nearly 10 months after she'd announced her diagnosis and upcoming "preventive chemotherapy treatment."
Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Prince William, Prince Louis, Prince George, Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after attending the king's Trooping the Colour birthday parade in London on June 14, 2025.Prince George might have a phone with 'no internet access'
Another challenge he and Kate experience as parents is the issue of technology and social media. The royals have decided "brick phones" are the solution, he told Huck.
"It's really hard," he replied when asked about how he handles digital access with his kids. "Our children don't have phones. I think when George moves on to secondary school, then maybe he might have a phone that has no internet access."
George is in year eight, equivalent to seventh grade in the U.S., and is in his final year at Lambrook School.
"To be honest, it's getting to the point where it's becoming a little bit of a tense issue. But I think he understands," William admitted. "I think it's the internet access I have a problem with. I think children can access too much stuff they don't need to see online."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Prince William might buy Prince George a 'brick phone'
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
