Prince William’s idea of a good evening at home sounds considerably less royal than the responsibilities waiting for him outside it.
The Prince of Wales apparently likes to settle down with Kate Middleton and watch The Traitors, according to a detail in royal biographer Robert Hardman’s 2026 book Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. Her Story. One member of William’s team described an evening in front of the reality competition with Kate as his idea of fun, PEOPLE reported.
Hardman uses the anecdote while comparing William’s habits with those of his father, King Charles III. Charles is portrayed as someone who still enjoys remaining at his desk writing letters late into the night, while his son is more inclined to switch off and spend the evening with his wife.
There is already evidence that The Traitors really does have an audience inside the Wales household. William discussed the show with one of its producers in 2025 and said he and his family were looking forward to its celebrity edition.
Hardman Uses ‘The Traitors’ to Show a Difference Between William and Charles
The television detail appears in a passage about how Charles and William approach their royal roles differently. Hardman describes the Prince of Wales as less traditional than his father without portraying him as a radical departure from the monarchy.
That contrast extends into their evenings. Charles still enjoys staying up to write letters, according to the book, while William’s idea of fun is to “sit down with the Princess in front of The Traitors.”
Marie Claire noted that the anecdote fits something William had already revealed himself months earlier. The reality franchise was familiar enough inside his household that he discussed it directly with the man behind the show.
William Had Already Told the Show’s Producer His Family Was Watching
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Stephen Lambert, founder of Studio Lambert and one of the producers behind The Traitors, met William at Windsor Castle in October 2025 while receiving an OBE for services to television.
The conversation quickly moved from the honor to The Celebrity Traitors, which was premiering that day. Lambert later recalled William saying that he and his family were “very much looking forward” to watching it and expected the series to be a major treat.
LBC reported that William also suggested the celebrity edition could become a treat for the country as a whole. His wording made clear that the interest extended beyond him alone. He described the show as something he and the family planned to watch.
That anticipation turned out to be well placed. The first celebrity edition became one of the biggest television successes of 2025, with its finale ultimately reaching about 15 million viewers in consolidated ratings.
‘The Traitors’ Became One of Britain’s Biggest Reality Hits
The British version of The Traitors premiered in 2022 with Claudia Winkleman as host. The format divides its players between secret Traitors and Faithfuls, with the Faithful trying to identify and banish the people deceiving them while the Traitors quietly eliminate competitors from the game.
The format originated with the Dutch series De Verraders and has expanded internationally, including a U.S. version hosted by Alan Cumming. The British edition grew dramatically after a relatively modest first season, eventually becoming one of the country’s most-watched entertainment programs.
The celebrity version pushed that popularity even further. Its 2025 finale drew about 15 million viewers after catch-up viewing was included, while the fourth civilian season followed in January 2026 with a record overnight audience for the regular edition. Ratings data showed how quickly the franchise had moved from a new BBC format to national event television.
The appeal is built around deception. Viewers usually know the identities of the Traitors while most contestants do not, allowing the audience to watch alliances form, suspicions spread and confident accusations collapse with information the players themselves lack.
The Waleses Have Let Other TV Habits Slip Before
William and Kate generally keep evenings with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis private, but their television habits occasionally surface during public engagements. Kate has separately revealed that another BBC competition also makes it onto her screen.
During a March 2026 visit to Borough Market, Kate immediately recognized Humble Crumble founder Kim Innes from MasterChef: The Professionals. After asking whether Innes had appeared on the show, the princess told her, “I watched it!” and said she had thought her face looked familiar. Marie Claire reported that Kate went on to praise programs such as MasterChef for encouraging creativity and showcasing small businesses.