Greer Riddell (pronounced Gre-er Rid-dell) is a very tired Londoner who is fuelled by tea and rarely looks up from her laptop. Before joining Collider in March 2024, Greer spent over a decade making social, content and video for UK media brands and freelance clients including the BBC, Bauer Media and Glastonbury Festivals.
Self-proclaimed “great indoors guy” Eugene Levy may be ticking off his bucket-list in The Reluctant Traveler on Apple TV+, but it's in the episode, “Living the Royal Life in the UK,” where he achieves an experience that can genuinely be described as one of a kind.
While taking in London’s landmarks, the American Pie favorite receives a handwritten invitation to Windsor Castle, the oldest continuously occupied castle in the world, for a private tour with the next-in-line to the British throne, Prince William. Apple TV+ was granted unprecedented access to the Prince of Wales, and judging by Levy’s reaction, he had no idea just how extraordinary the encounter would be. The resulting interview is unlike anything viewers have seen before and one that has completely changed Royal PR. ‘The Reluctant Traveler’ Is An Unusual PR Move For The British Royal Family The British Royal Family is not typically known for their openness when it comes to appearances in the media — interviews are sanitized, statements are pre-prepared and official broadcasts retain a formal tone; The Reluctant Traveler is entirely different. Instead of presenting Windsor Castle as an out-of-touch spectacle, the Prince “invites” Levy into a warm family home, sharing stories and childhood memories. This personal approach removes the historic distance between the Royals and their public, signaling a deliberate and modern PR shift. In an age where audiences crave authenticity and connection, the Prince appears to understand the value of accessibility, drawing a subtle line between the job and the family inheriting the work. While Apple TV+ will have organized this meeting meticulously, Eugene Levy seems genuinely surprised throughout, as though he can’t quite believe how candid the Prince is being. There’s a knowing sparkle in the Prince’s eye that suggests that he may have planned this approachable and reflective tone all along. It almost feels as if he wanted to grant the unknowing Levy, who he reportedly admires from American Pie, a rare and unexpected scoop. This is something the British Monarchy have been historically fearful of. In 1969, Queen Elizabeth II famously banned a self-commissioned film named Royal Family which showed a year in the Windsors' intimate life. The hope for this fly-on-the wall documentary was that it would revitalize the public's faith in the Firm during the Swinging Sixties, but it swung too far, making them seem ordinary, breeding contempt, and has not been allowed to be broadcast on British television since. Documentary maker and BBC Director General, David Attenborough, claimed it was in danger of,"killing the monarchy," according to The Telegraph. Its production was later dramatized in the Netflix series The Crown, in Season 3, Episode 4,"Bubbikins." Nearly 60 years later, the portrayal of the Monarchy in The Reluctant Traveler pushes the boundary of familiarity further — with the heir apparent asking, “Was getting drunk with Prince William on your bucket list?” It’s clear that the Prince respects tradition, going as far as saying he is showing Windsor in a way that Queen Elizabeth II would have liked Levy to see it. Yet he is most excited to bring about change when he steps into the top job, commenting that “history can be a weight around you” and that it can"suffocate." This incredibly open discussion around how Prince William wants to lead, make change and “question” is truly unique to Levy’s interview. We have never heard a future Monarch openly discuss plans for their reign and country like this before. Palace sources shared with the BBC that this “is the most open Prince William has ever been,” so why did he choose this series to reveal so much? It’s Not A Coincidence That Prince William Choose Streaming Royalty Apple TV+ There is always heavy scrutiny on the British Royals but over the last few years, social media speculation has been rife. Their history, influence, and relationships interest people from all over the world, and it came as no surprise that, with the advent of streaming, the Royals were looked at once again for profitable content. The Queen , writer Peter Morgan developed The Crown for Netflix in 2016, which dramatized the reign of Queen Elizabeth II across 60 glossy episodes. The series had an irresistible blend of fact and emotional fiction that caused concern among critics. Even Dame Judi Dench called for Netflix to include a disclaimer at the beginning of each episode to stop viewers from being misled and the Royal Family from being misrepresented. In the real world, the Monarchy was facing upheaval in the early 2020s with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepping down as working members of the Family. The pair subsequently signed a 5-year deal worth $100M with Netflix, according to the BBC, to make their own shows, including Harry & Meghan, a six-part docuseries retelling their courtship, marriage, and turbulent family breakdown. This tell-all series discussed intimate details of Prince Harry’s personal relationships in a critical light and was Netflix’s biggest documentary debut with a total of 28.7 million households watching in just four days. For both Princes, years of press intrusion have fueled a shared desire to reclaim their own narratives. Each has sought to reveal their authenticity through the media of their own choosing. But while Prince Harry has leaned into highly-stylized series, Prince William’s recent collaboration with The Reluctant Traveler represents a more subtle and strategic form of openness. One reason The Reluctant Traveler was an ideal series for Prince William to reveal a more candid side of himself lies in its home: Apple TV+. The streamer has built a reputation for prestige and quality storytelling with shows such as Severance and The Studio — just look at this year’s Emmy nominations. Whereas Netflix thrives on often mass-appealing content, Apple’s brand leans toward authenticity. The partnership allows William to appear open and relatable but still in a high-quality and controlled environment. It’s hard to imagine him achieving the same effect on Netflix, where his honest comments might easily be drowned out by the Royal buzz already on the platform. Only Eugene Levy Could Have Achieved This Interview With Prince William While Apple TV+'s reputation was almost certainly key to Prince William agreeing to take part, it’s likely that The Reluctant Traveler’s host, Eugene Levy, was the true reason the Prince appeared so relaxed and open. Levy meets people with genuine curiosity, zero judgment, and there’s something about his quiet humor and gentle nature that puts others at ease. He seeks authentic human connection with everyone he meets. So perhaps Kensington Palace had been following him “on tweeters,” or maybe Prince William was fascinated by the idea of connecting with someone he watched on the big screen in his youth, but one thing is for sure, a Royal Correspondent would not have been able to get this interview! Fans of The Reluctant Traveler will recognize the same warmth that comes through when Levy travels with his daughter, Sarah Levy. The pair previously worked together on Schitt’s Creek alongside his son Dan Levy, playing Twyla Sands and David Rose respectively. Eugene Levy's brand is family-orientated, a proud Dad, and husband — he embodies values that resonate with the Prince of Wales, making him the perfect conduit for this new style of Royal interview. The pair had undeniable chemistry from their very first meeting — Prince William turning up on a scooter must have instantly made Levy think, “This is someone I could have a pint with.” At the pub, the duo discussed usually off-limits topics such as supporting Catherine the Princess of Wales, and King Charles III, with their cancer diagnoses. Levy looks both delighted and mystified to hear Prince William share his hopes for the future. However, it is because of Levy’s own wholesome brand, that the Prince appears comfortable sharing such intimate details with him, rather than with a traditional journalist. For a family that has lived by the mantra “never complain, never explain” for generations, this interview stands out as truly unique for Prince William and a real bucket-list moment for Eugene Levy, that was only made possible because he was asking the questions. Levy has, almost by accident, found himself at the center of one of the most open conversations the British Royal Family has ever had. His questions felt natural, nonstrategic, and his interest was personal rather than professional. He later told the BBC that he “wasn’t thinking about any kind of scoop,” but rather about having a real conversation, and it looks as if that was exactly what Prince William was after too. What unfolds feels less like an interview and more like two men meeting in the pub — one a comedy legend, the other a future King — sharing stories, jokes, a drink, and, unexpectedly, finding common ground in a way that will redefine the Royal Family moving forward. The Reluctant Traveler 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Like TV-PG Documentary Comedy Travel Reality Release Date February 24, 2023 Network Apple TV+ Cast See All
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