At 44, Prince William is revealing a clearer picture of the King he will be

Whether discussing his "terrible taste in music", his passion for Aston Villa football club or his pride in Catherine's recovery from cancer, Prince William has revealed more of his personality to the public than ever before.

One such moment came earlier this month when William was put on the spot by a young activist who asked whether he had discussed periods with his children.

It was a public conversation that would once have been unthinkable for a future monarch. In a split second, his expression turned from surprise – and perhaps the briefest hint of embarrassment – to a self-deprecating laugh, followed by a poised and thoughtful response: "I know I will have to one day, but I might need my wife to help me with that."

Deftly handled by the man who will one day be King, it gave great insight into the way in which he approaches family discussions, leaning on Catherine for support.

These moments of openness from William – who celebrated his birthday on Sunday – are becoming increasingly common. They show us who he is and the values that will shape his future reign.

Valuing privacy and his family

At the centre of his vision is his family. He is determined to ensure that his children's upbringing is as stable, loving and normal as possible – and at the heart of it all is Catherine.

In recent months, the Prince has been more candid about her importance to him than ever, admitting that his family "couldn't cope without her". And when the singer Ronan Keating mentioned William to Catherine during an outing in early June, saying, "We love him", she replied with a smile: "So do I."

"He and Catherine are a team – they always have been," a friend of the Prince tells HELLO!.

© Samir Hussein/WireImage

As for William's mindset – two years on from the most "brutal" year of his life after Catherine received a cancer diagnosis – he is in a good place. Pointing to his recent appearance on the Heart Breakfast radio show, the friend adds: "He's so relaxed and down to earth. You saw it there. What you see is what you get." 

That ease has been increasingly visible in public. William appears comfortable with people seeing aspects of his life that resonate with parents across the country – whether it is the chaos of the school run, endless arguments over the family playlist or dancing along to Taylor Swift with his daughter, Princess Charlotte.

Earlier this month, William was pictured ecstatic in the stands after watching his beloved Aston Villa's historic triumph in the Europa League final in Istanbul, surrounded by friends he has known since childhood.

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Those who know him well often mention his keen sense of humour, in evidence during the Heart interview when host Amanda Holden tried to persuade him to pick a favourite song, telling him: "I'm being lowered into the ground to Dancing Queen." Deadpan and quick as a flash, he responded: "Today?"

When Omoeymi Akerele, founder of Lagos Fashion week, met the Prince at an event ahead of the Earthshot Prize Awards in Rio last November, she didn't really get a chance to talk to him.

But William's reticence was deliberate. Days later, he presented her with an Earthshot Prize. "He has a sense of humour," she tells HELLO! "When we won, he said, 'You weren't expecting that, were you?!' He hadn't wanted to give the game away." 

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We know William now better than ever before. Yet at the same time, he remains fiercely protective of the things that matter most to him. 

He is often seen standing at the side of a sports pitch carrying bags of kit while watching one of his children compete. Onlookers may be surprised to see him, but photos rarely emerge; William reveals things on his own terms. 

A small staff and a very close circle of trusted, long-standing friends have helped to create the sanctuary he values so highly. The public may see more of his personality, but not at the expense of his family's privacy.

A relatable royal

But William knows that to succeed as a modern monarch, he needs to be relatable. He also needs purpose. His Earthshot Prize and Homewards initiatives are key examples of how he has found it.

Along with his official overseas trips, Earthshot has established him as an international statesman. Homewards has proved his determination to tackle tough social problems. Both reflect his unwillingness to simply raise awareness of an issue; he wants action and measurable outcomes. He has labelled himself a "stubborn optimist".

An aide to the Prince tells HELLO!: "He continues to be driven by impact and delivering for communities up and down the country. As he's previously said, the Prince comes with no other agenda other than using his platform for good." 

One of the most revealing moments came last October, when William met a bereaved mother, Rhian Mannings, who had lost her husband to suicide in 2012, five days after the death of their one-year-old son, George. As she recalled her experience, the Prince's eyes welled up with tears. 

It was a reminder that behind the future King's growing confidence as a leader lies an empathy shaped by his own experience of grief and loss. Those who work alongside him on the causes he champions see this up close.

"One of Princess Diana's greatest gifts was her ability to see people, particularly those who were often overlooked, and to help the world see them too. I see that same commitment in Prince William's support for young people and social impact," says Tessy Ojo, CEO of The Diana Award.

Meanwhile Safiya Saeed, Sheffield city councillor and founder of the charity Reach Up Youth, tells HELLO! "He brings his authentic self. He remembers people's names, their stories, their positions, where they are, how they are… every time he shakes somebody's hand, he doesn't even glance at the next person, he stays focused… he really listens, and he really remembers.

"What he brings is energy, vibe and recognition. People feel recognised, seen and valuable. The future King cares." 

© Ryan Jenkinson / Kensington Palace

Homewards advocate and Chief Fire Officer for Hampshire Sabrina Cohen-Hatton adds: "The Prince is very sensitive to the human impact of all aspects of homelessness and the issues that arise from it. Every time I've had a conversation with him his first thought has been around the people that it's affecting and how we can make it better on that really human level."

The youth climate activist Ernest Gibson, a member of the Earthshot Prize Council, describes "kind and gentle" interactions with the Prince, who wants to hear from every person in a meeting.

"Watching him coax people and encourage them to speak and provide their opinions is quite a nurturing thing to witness," he tells HELLO! "I think if you are comfortable enough in yourself and you're not constantly feeling like you need to prove something, it allows you the opportunity to let others shine and you never feel insecure about it.

"It turns a lot of the preconceived ideas of what leadership looks like on their head. I think he's given a really good example of what leadership in the 21st century ought to look like."

With a flair for empathetic leadership, the heir to the throne is managing to tackle deadly serious issues, such as homelessness and climate change, with a warmth and optimism that inspires others to act. His willingness to reveal more of himself has allowed the public to connect with him in a way that previous generations of the royal family have not always managed.

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His relationship with Harry

If there is one area of his life that remains unresolved, however, it is his relationship with his brother.

When Prince Harry touches down in the UK next month, there will be no meeting. The brothers have reportedly not spoken for years now. Yet those close to William say that he is focused on the future rather than the past.

Anchored by his marriage to Catherine and the family life they have built together, he appears more comfortable in his own skin than ever before. His causes give him purpose, his family provides stability, and his growing openness and humour have helped the public connect with him in a new way.

At 44, the Prince of Wales is no longer simply preparing to be King. Increasingly, he is showing the country what kind of monarch he intends to become.