Child psychologist advises what parents can learn from Prince William’s ‘powerful’ listening technique

Prince William offered a rare insight into his relationship with his three children during an interview about his own mental health and revealed he encourages open communication with the young royals at home.

The 43-year-old Prince of Wales was answering questions about regulating emotions when the topic of parenting arose, following which he revealed he prioritised speaking candidly about feelings with Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and Prince Louis, seven.  

During his chat on a panel for Greg James’s Radio 1’s Life Hacks, William explained that his children came to him with all of their problems. He said: “I get all the details, which I love. It’s amazing. Being able to understand it, have time with it, decipher it, sometimes. 

“You feel a sense that you need to fix it for everyone and that I find quite difficult. I have to remind myself that you don’t need to fix everything, but you need to listen, and it’s important to be ok with those feelings and comments.”​

Following his revelations, HCPC-registered Senior Education and Child Psychologist Dr Sasha Hall, who has over 15 years of experience, praised the senior royal for his approach to parenting and hailed his words as an example of how to establish “emotional safety” in the home environment. 

She told HELLO!: “Prince William is right to highlight how powerful it is for parents to listen rather than feel they must fix everything. When children are encouraged to talk about their thoughts and feelings, we are strengthening their emotional literacy. 

“They move beyond simple words like happy or sad and begin to develop a richer vocabulary, such as frustrated, disappointed, worried or embarrassed. This gives them the tools to make sense of their internal world rather than becoming overwhelmed by it.” 

Banishing taboos and leading by example 

The expert analysed William’s comments and explained the type of environment she predicted King Charles’ son and his wife, the Princess of Wales, have created for their children in their Forest Lodge residence. 

“Children learn how to talk about emotions by watching the adults around them. When parents model openness in everyday moments, children absorb the message that feelings are not taboo and that home is a safe place to share them,” Dr Sasha revealed. 

She continued: “That sense of emotional safety is foundational. It builds trust and helps children feel secure enough to bring bigger worries as they grow. When children experience home as a place where any topic can be spoken about without fear of dismissal or embarrassment, it reduces shame and prevents difficulties from becoming hidden or internalised.” 

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A natural urge to be a fixer 

During the panel discussion, the senior royal admitted to wanting to automatically fix his children’s problems rather than just listen, something the expert highlighted was a relatable issue faced by thousands of parents worldwide. 

If, like William, you battle with that urge, her advice was to focus on “communicating”, instead of “unintentionally minimising their experiences”. She said: “The urge to fix everything for a child is completely natural. As parents we are wired to protect. 

“However, constantly removing obstacles can prevent children from developing resilience. When we pause and listen instead, we communicate, ‘I believe you can cope, and I am here with you’.  

“That support helps children process what has happened, consider possible responses and learn from experience. Even when things do not go perfectly, they gain confidence from knowing they are not facing challenges alone.” 

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Listening as a powerful tool to break generational cycles 

Coming from a familial background that was known globally for their stiff upper lip and carried the motto, “never complain, never explain”, William would be forgiven for struggling in the communication department. However, it seems that when it comes to his own parenting style, he is determined to break the mould, something Dr Sasha praised the famous father for. 

She highlighted: “What may seem small to an adult, such as a friendship difficulty, can feel enormous to a child. Taking their concerns seriously strengthens the connection and reinforces that their inner world matters.”

The expert concluded: “Breaking cycles of emotional silence across generations is not about dramatic conversations. It is about consistent, everyday moments of listening, validating and being emotionally available. 

“Over time, that creates young people who are more comfortable expressing themselves and seeking support when they need it.” 

Meet the expert – Dr Sasha Hall

Dr Sasha Hall is an HCPC-registered Senior Education and Child Psychologist who has over 15 years of experience in the field and is a mother herself. 

© Emma Pharaoh