Late Queen Elizabeth II quietly gave Prince William a piece of advice that would shape the early years of his marriage—and possibly his future as king.
According to royal expert Russell Myers in his upcoming book William and Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story, William once told his grandmother he wanted to move to Wales after marrying Kate Middleton in 2011. His goal was simple but meaningful: give Kate time to adjust to royal life away from the intense London spotlight. Rather than push him toward tradition, the Queen surprised him.
Drawing from her own early marriage to Prince Philip—when they spent cherished years in Malta while he served in the Royal Navy—Elizabeth reportedly saw parallels. She understood the value of a semi-normal newlywed chapter before duty fully takes over. Her advice to William? “Go and live your life.” But she added a gentle warning: always be prepared, because circumstances can change without warning.
William reportedly found deep comfort in those words. The blessing allowed him to build a foundation with Kate in Wales, where he worked as an RAF search-and-rescue pilot. It was one of the rare stretches in his life that felt relatively grounded and private compared to the global glare he grew up under.
The Queen’s guidance didn’t stop there. After Princess Diana’s death, William frequently turned to his grandmother for stability. One insider described him as “completely broken” during that period, fearing the loss of the last constant in his life. In one pivotal moment, Elizabeth offered him a simple but profound compass for navigating grief and duty: follow a path guided by faith. It’s advice that appears to have quietly anchored the future king ever since.
