William: I learned from my parents' mistakes to give my family a happy, healthy and stable home'

THE Prince of Wales has declared: “The most important thing in my life is my family” - and vowed to learn from the mistakes his own parents made.

- By Emily Ferguson Royal Editor

In an honest and frank TV chat, William stressed how important he feels it is to raise his three children in a “happy, healthy, stable home”. And while he said he had that for “part” of his childhood, he admitted the divorce of his parents — King Charles and Princess Diana — meant his stable home life only “lasted a short period of time”.

One veteran royal commentator has said William’s comments could upset his father.

Charles and Diana divorced in 1996, when William was 14.

Four years earlier, they announced their separation and both gave TV interviews where they admitted adultery and spoke about their marriage difficulties.

William was speaking to Eugene Levy, while filming an episode of the Hollywood star's hit travel show, The Reluctant Traveller, at Windsor Castle.

The future king, 43, manages his royal duties around the school run and is intent on providing his children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven - with a sense of normality.

And he told Eugene: “I think it’s really important that atmosphere is created at home.

“You have to have that warmth, that feeling of safety, security, love.

“That all has to be there, and that was certainly part of my childhood.”

Speaking about his parents’ breakup he added: “You take that and you learn from it and you try and make sure you don’t do the same mistakes as your parents.

“I think we all try and do that and I just want to do what’s best for my children.

“But I know that the drama and the stress when you’re small really affects you when you're older.”