Prince William’s son George not allowed a smartphone

By Ellie Crabbe

Britain’s crown prince William has said that not allowing his 12-year-old son George to have a mobile phone has “become a little bit of a tense issue” as he spoke out about the challenges of modern parenting.

William spoke to broadcaster Luciano Huck in Brazil, where he travelled to stage his Earthshot Prize in Rio de Janeiro.

In a video Huck shared to his 23 million Instagram followers on Monday, the Prince of Wales spoke candidly about his and his wife’s decision not to let Prince George, Princess Charlotte or Prince Louis have mobile phones yet.

“It’s really hard,” he told Huck.

“Our children don’t have phones. I think when George moves on to secondary school, then maybe he might have a phone that has no internet access.”

He flagged concerns about children potentially seeing too much inappropriate content online.

“It’s getting to the point where it’s becoming a little bit of a like tense issue. But I think he understands why, we communicate why we don’t think it’s right. And again, I think it’s the internet access I have a problem with,” he said.

He also revealed that he and his wife, Catherine, share the school run and he attends sports days, matches and plays in the garden with his children when he can.

“I’m the taxi driver,” he joked.

“Taxi driver, sports days, matches, playing in the garden, where I can. School run, most days. I mean, Catherine and I share it. She probably does the bulk of it.”

Huck asked William about the challenges of the past few years for his family, particularly with his father, King Charles, and his wife both being diagnosed with cancer.

“Every family has its own difficulties and its own challenges … Sometimes you feel you’re oversharing with the children. You probably shouldn’t, but most of the time, hiding stuff from them doesn’t work,” he said.

“It’s always a balancing act to me that every parent knows that it’s kind of: ‘How much do I say? What do I say? When do I say?’ And you know, there’s no manual for being a parent. You’ve just got to go with a bit of instinct.”

When it comes to deciding what age children should get their first mobile phone, most parents find themselves caught between practicality and protection. For some families, it’s about safety – being able to contact children when they’re out and about. For others, it’s about setting limits in a world where screens dominate everything from learning to friendship.

Experts say there’s no one-size-fits-all answer – and the right time depends more on a child’s maturity than their age.

The Child Mind Institute advises that parents look beyond the numbers. “There’s no magic age for a first phone,” the institute notes. “What matters most is whether your child can handle the responsibility and follow family rules about technology use.”

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) echoes that sentiment, encouraging parents to focus on readiness rather than a specific birthday. “Children develop at different rates,” the AAP says. “Before giving a phone, make sure your child can manage screen time, privacy and online behaviour.”

Interestingly, a Stanford Medicine study found no clear link between the age kids receive their first phone and their mental health, behaviour or school performance. Researchers followed hundreds of children and concluded that emotional maturity and family communication mattered far more than age alone.

Still, many experts suggest waiting until the early teen years if possible. Data from Research.com shows that most children between 12 and 14 years old are better equipped to manage social media and understand online safety. The Children’s Bureau reports the average age for a first phone is now 12 to 13, with a strong recommendation for parents to base the decision on readiness – not peer pressure.

So what’s the takeaway? Experts say parents should think about why their child needs a phone – for safety, communication, or social reasons – and create clear rules around use. Shared family plans, parental controls and regular check-ins can help ensure phones remain tools for connection, not stress.

As technology continues to weave deeper into everyday life, psychologists warn that how parents introduce smartphones can shape lifelong digital habits. The key, they say, is balance: letting kids connect without letting screens control them.