As the heir to the British throne, Prince William has been preparing to be king since his early childhood, just like his son, Prince George. His circle has therefore had to ensure that he receives the necessary education to prepare him to become monarch.
In his new biography titled “William and Catherine: The New Era of Monarchy, Behind the Scenes of History,” published at the end of February 2026, author Russel Myers revealed that the late Queen Elizabeth II had begun to exert some influence on William, starting from his childhood.
“A form of favoritism that wasn’t?” Myers writes in his book, excerpts of which were published in an article on March 30, 2026 on the Marie Claire UK website. He continues, “Faced with Diana’s increasing influence on her children and Charles’ lack of influence at the time, the Queen subtly began to establish her authority over the future King.”
“Despite this somewhat particular education being seen as favoritism, and none of the other grandchildren receiving such attention, both the Queen and the Queen Mother (Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, mother of Elizabeth II) were determined to instill William with the essential tools for his future as monarch,” explains Russel Myers in his autobiography.
The attention given by Elizabeth II and Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon may have caused some tensions between Prince William and his brother, Prince Harry. Myers suggests that the Queen Mother cherished William, sending him small gifts and letters of encouragement over the years, solidifying his position as heir and sowing the seeds of a tacit difference between him and Harry.
During family gatherings, the Queen Mother would insist that William sit next to her, further reinforcing his position as heir and creating a subtle divide between him and Harry. While it is impossible to know if Prince William was the favorite grandson of the late Queen, this attention can be interpreted as a simple desire to ensure that the British crown would be in good hands after her passing.
