Prince William close to tears as he takes his favourite childhood walk for Apple podcast

Maybe royals like making radio because it means that you can’t see their faces. Prince William, for instance, has been photographed a lot, ever since he was born, but his voice isn’t quite as familiar as his face. Is it a chance for us to see them afresh?

The Royal family have been enjoying the wireless over the past few years. Prince Charles has made interview appearances discussing music and the arts on Classic FM and Radio 3, and earlier this year gave an interview about gardening and nature to Simon Armitage for his Radio 4 series, The Poet Laureate Has Gone to His Shed. The Duchess of Cornwall hosted Emma Barnett at home for a morning on Radio 5 Live last year, and, at the beginning of 2021, the Queen sent in a goodwill message to Woman’s Hour on Radio 4. Prince William is, as in so many things, carrying on the family tradition.

Except that, this time, he hasn’t trodden the safe realms of BBC radio and Classic FM. His radio excursion, a 38-minute audio ramble and conversation called Time to Walk, is an Apple initiative, available internationally on the digital radio station Apple Music 1 and on demand via Apple’s Fitness+ subscription. It’s easiest to listen to if you have an Apple Watch; otherwise, hope for repeats on Apple Music.

There is a sense of global positioning here. William was not just talking to Britain, but to the world; there is an American feel to the peppy introduction, and the broadcast is available in 165 countries. Time to Walk is a series, in its second season, in which celebrities lead listeners on a walk around somewhere they know, discussing the health benefits of walking among reflections from their own lives, as well as picking a few of their favourite songs. You're supposed to get your walking shoes and headphones on and listen while you, yourself, go for a 40-minute ramble. Previous walk leaders have included Dolly Parton and Anthony Joshua.

There’s an intimacy and companionship to the experience, which has no host or interviewer. Prince William seemed to like this. “It feels like I’ve been on a walk with a best mate, or my wife,” he said at the end, which is perhaps a slightly surprising thing for someone to say after they’ve been talking about themselves for the best part of 40 minutes.

But, anyway, the walk went through the Sandringham estate towards his Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, a route that William remembered taking on childhood Christmases with his grandfather, Prince Philip. Along the way there were the sounds of feet on wet grass, creaking countryside gates and wild geese in the sky. It was peaceful.

He discussed some of his favourite good causes (particularly the importance of looking after mental health and keeping “mentally fit”, as well as environmental conservation). One of the songs he chose to play was Tina Turner’s The Best, recalling how his mother, Princess Diana, used to play it in the car on the way to take William and Harry back to boarding school to help overcome their nerves, with even the policeman in the car singing along.

Then he selected Shakira’s Waka Waka, his own children's favourite: Princess Charlotte likes to dance to it in the kitchen wearing her ballet outfits, with Prince Louis tagging along behind.

He cheerfully talked about being asked by Taylor Swift to sing Livin’ on a Prayer on stage with her and Jon Bon Jovi at a charity fundraiser. “Sod it,” he remembers thinking, “I can’t be the doofus who’s going to ruin it for everyone.” His conclusion from the event was that "making a fool of yourself is OK." However, William didn't come across as quite so free and easy as his brother was in his own American media appearance on James Corden's Carpool Karaoke this year. Here, William's broadcasting was much more reserved, and in keeping with his father’s recent thoughtful, nature-focused media conversations on radio and TV.

Most moving were his thoughts on his time working for Cambridge Air Ambulance. He was audibly close to tears when recalling that particular way of experiencing the British countryside: flying high above it while responding to emergencies, and taking the difficult emotions of the job home with him. The most striking moment was when he reflected that, in the traumatic aftermath of one particular incident, “I felt like the whole world was dying… You just feel everyone's in pain, everyone's suffering”. Anyone who has experienced trauma or bereavement might well recognise that feeling. I did. It was striking to hear it articulated so clearly, with honesty and quiet power.