From Teen Heartthrob to Doting Dad: 7 Times Prince William Proved That He Takes His Father Duties Seriously

As future heir to the throne, Prince William may be juggling a lot of royal responsibility. But he is also concentrating on his role as a father, and he is taking his family duties very seriously. The Duke of Cambridge has also been revealing tidbits about what kind of father he is, and how his own experiences affected his parenting approach.

Bright Side went through interviews and articles that gave us a peek into Prince William’s life as a dad. We pieced them together so we can understand how he came to be the sweet and doting father that he is now.

He didn’t let his past trauma get in the way of his fatherhood.

In one documentary, he opened up about how not having the proper guidance made fatherhood a daunting experience for him. He acknowledged that having children is “one of the most amazing moments of life, but it’s also one of the scariest.”

“I think when you’ve been through something traumatic in life, like say your dad not being around, my mother died when I was younger, the emotions come back in leaps and bounds. Because it’s a very different phase of life, and there’s no one (parent) kind of there to help you.” But despite the lack of guidance, Prince William raises his kids the best way he can, and makes sure that he and Kate instill good qualities and values in them.

Prince William embraced the fact that his kids made him more emotional.

Having Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis put the Duke of Cambridge more in touch with his feelings. In one documentary, he admitted to being “weirdly” more emotional compared to before. He tends to get more worried now, and even the tiniest things can make him tear up.

The Duke of Cambridge prioritizes family time.

Prince William spoke about how world events affect him as a dad. “Just because you realize how precious life is, and it puts it in a little perspective. The idea of not being around to see your children grow up and stuff like that.” And because he learned to not take time for granted, he makes sure he sees his kids as soon as he gets any free time.

He is very affectionate with his kids, a behavior rarely seen in royal engagements.

According to a human behavioral expert, Prince William’s body language with his brood reveals that he is a good parent. Being extremely affectionate in public is not a common practice for royal family members, but Prince William doesn’t hold back with his hugs and kisses — which are non-verbal ways of letting the children know that he loves them.

Another body language expert described his sweet gestures toward his kids as proof that he is focused on making them feel safe, secure, and loved, regardless of how chaotic the situation around them could be. And since this behavior is consistently seen in their family photos, it’s safe to say that these interactions are genuine and not just for show.

He is fighting to protect the planet for future generations.

Prince William has been a nature lover since he was a kid, but having youngsters strengthened his resolve to protect our environment. “Your outlook does change. You want to hand over the next generation the wildlife in a much better condition,” he explained.

To help raise awareness about environmental issues and community-based solutions, he made the documentary Prince William: A Planet for Us All, where he traveled throughout Britain and Africa to speak with activists who have been working on positive changes for nature.

The Duke and Duchess are making efforts to raise their children in a normal household.

They may be British Royals, but both Prince William and Kate want their kids to grow up humble and grounded. According to an insider, the family loves doing typical activities like playing outdoors and in the mud, practicing the latest dance crazes, and the siblings also bicker with one another. Mom and Dad also apparently take turns helping the kids with their homework, and entertaining them before bedtime.

Prince William also wants to raise Prince George “normally” before he becomes aware that he is the heir to the throne. “There’ll be a time and a place to bring George up and understand how he fits in the world, but right now it’s just a case of keeping a secure, stable environment around him and showing him as much love as I can as a father.”

Prince William clearly enjoys fatherhood.

To celebrate this year’s Father Day, the official Instagram account of the Duke and Duchess posted this photo of Prince William sandwiched between his kids, and it’s definitely giving off some fun and silly vibes. According to a source, the pic captured their bond perfectly as they are all smiles and having a good time together.

One body language expert weighed in on the heart-melting photo, saying that the snapshot shows that Prince William feels fulfilled as a man, and that he is at peace with being a father and a husband.

Do you like Prince William’s parenting outlook and approach? Which of his statements resonated with you the most?