Prince William’s close relationship with the late Queen Elizabeth II began when he was a small child, with William having a hilarious nickname for the late monarch. The relationship between Prince William and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, was one of deep affection, mutual respect, and shared purpose. While the world saw a monarch and her future heir, behind palace walls was a grandmother.
As the eldest son of King Charles, the then Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales, he was second in line to the throne from birth. Amid the pressures of royal life and the challenges within his parents’ marriage, Queen Elizabeth II provided William with a consistent and reassuring presence.
This was exemplified when a young William once confused a guest at Buckingham Palace when he fell over and cried out, “Gary! Gary!”
When the guest asked, “Who’s Gary?”, the Queen hurried over to pick him up and explained, “Oh, I’m Gary. He hasn’t learned to say ‘Granny’ yet” as reported in Hello! Magazine.
Despite his new role being decades away, as monarch, she went out of her way to help the Prince to shoulder the burden awaiting him as the future King.
“I have been able to explore, understand, slightly carve my own path,” he revealed once in the Sky documentary. “I greatly appreciate and value that protection.”
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Growing up, William would visit Queen Elizabeth II for tea at Windsor while boarding at nearby Eton College and the pair would have heart-to-heart conversations about the role he would one day take on.
Prince Harry also touched on this connection in the 2016 documentary Elizabeth at 90: A Family Tribute. He said: “You have this huge amount of respect for your boss, and I always view her as my boss, but also as a grandmother”
As the longest-reigning monarch in British history, Queen Elizabeth II understood the weight of the crown better than anyone. Over time, her relationship with Prince William evolved into one of mentorship.
In her later years, William took on more prominent roles within the Royal Family, supporting her at major events and stepping in when needed. This gradual transition reflected not only constitutional necessity but also her confidence in him.
With the accession of King Charles, after she died in September 2022 at Balmoral, William became Prince of Wales, stepping closer to the role for which his grandmother had long prepared him.