The Prince of Wales has spoken about his strict rule that his children do not have mobile phones, admitting the stance is becoming a 'tense issue' with his eldest son, Prince George, as he prepares to start secondary school.
In an interview with Brazilian TV presenter Luciano Huck during a cable car ride up Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio de Janeiro, William said that while George might receive a phone when he moves to Eton College in September, it would come with limited access. He explained: 'It's getting to the point where it is becoming a bit of a tense issue. But I think he understands why, we communicate why we don't think it's right.'
The future king added that his concern was not with texting but with the full internet: 'I think it's the full internet access I have a problem with, children can access too much stuff they don't need to see online but having a phone with text messages, the old-style brick phones like we used to call them, that's fine.'
William also touched on the 'brutal' year the family endured in 2024 when the Princess of Wales was diagnosed with cancer. He disclosed that he and Kate chose to communicate openly with George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis about such challenges, saying: 'There is no manual for being a parent, you've just got to go with it - and use a bit of instinct.'
Reflecting on his parenting role, he said he does 'the school run most days' and shares duties with Catherine, though she 'probably does the bulk of it'. The interview comes as George is set to follow in his father's footsteps by attending Eton College from September.
