Prince William Fights Claims That He's a "Reluctant Royal," Is Focused on "Role as a Father"

The son of the late Princess Diana explains what he's focusing on amid British backlash that he is not interested in his duties as the future king

Prince William is fighting back against royal flack. 

Fresh off his first official tour of India and Bhutan alongside his wife Duchess Kate Middleton, the 33-year-old is once again busy shutting down claims that he's "work-shy."

When the BBC's Nicholas Witchell asked him to respond to allegations that he's a "slightly reluctant royal," William defended himself fiercely. 

"To be honest, I'm going to get plenty of criticism in my lifetime. It is not something that I completely ignore, but it's not something that I take completely to heart," he admitted. "I'm concentrating very much on my role as a father. I'm a new father and I take my duties and my responsibilities to my family very seriously."

As a relatively new father to his 2-year-old son Prince George and 11-month-old daughter Princess Charlotte, the prince is feeling the pressures of proper parenting.

"I want to bring my children up as good people with the idea of service and duty to others as very important. But if I can't give my time to my children as well, I worry about their future," he added. 

In addition to his dedication to his children, Prince William asserts he has not lost touch with preparing for his future role as king. 

"I take duty very seriously and i take my responsibilities very seriously, but its about finding your own way at the right time and if you're not careful, duty can sort of weight you down an awful lot at a very early age."

Still, when the throne is officially abdicated, he says he's prepared to handle that weight. 

"When the Queen decides she's going to hand down more responsibilities, I'll be the first person to accept them," he said. "As that time comes, I will be the first person to put my hand up and take it on."

However, Buckingham Palace is still filled with leaders ahead of him, including his grandmother Queen Elizabeth II, who is about to turn 90 years old, and his father, Prince Charles, so there is some wiggle room to focus on other endeavors outside of the royal palace, including his work as an air ambulance pilot until his contract finishes. 

"My grandmother and my father are 150 percent supportive behind everything that I'm doing — and Harry and Catherine," he added. "They very much understand whilst my grandmother is still extremely active at the helm of the royal family, as the monarch [and] my father is incredibly busy with his charitable activities and other responsibilities, there's the time now and the space to explore other means of doing a worthwhile job."

Until the time comes for Prince William to take the crown, he will remain focused on keeping his growing family grounded. 

"As far as we're concerned, within our family unit we are a normal family," he told the BBC. "I love my children the same way any father does and I hope George loves me the same way any son does to his father, so we are very normal in that sense."

While his children's lives will never be entirely normal, Prince William is more concerned with just giving his son the opportunity to be a kid.  

"There will be a time and a place to bring George up and [help him] understand how he fits in the world," he concluded. "But right now, it's just a case of keeping a secure, stable environment around him and showing him as much love as I can as a father."