This is a Tuesday July 23, 2013 file photo of Britain鈥檚 Prince William places carefully the Prince George of Cambridge into a car, Tuesday July 23, 2013, as they leave St. Mary鈥檚 Hospital exclusive Lindo Wing in London where the Duchess gave birth on Monday July 22. Britain鈥檚 Prince William has described his joy at introducing newborn son to the world on the steps of a London hospital last month and about his nerves about fitting the car seat securely into the Land Rover before driving off. AP
LONDON鈥� His newborn son is 鈥渁 little bit of a rascal鈥� and car seats can daunt any dad, Britain鈥檚 Prince William says.
The second in line to the British throne has described his joy at introducing his son to the world on the steps of a London hospital last month 鈥� and about his nerves over fitting the car seat securely into the Land Rover before driving off.
William told CNN in his first interview since Prince George鈥檚 birth on July 22 that both he and the Duchess of Cambridge couldn鈥檛 wait to show off their son when they emerged from St. Mary鈥檚 Hospital to meet the world鈥檚 media a day later.
鈥淚鈥檓 just glad he wasn鈥檛 screaming his head off the whole way through,鈥� he said in an interview broadcast聽Monday.
William was quizzed on a range of child-rearing topics 鈥� from baby toys to diapers and sleep deprivation 鈥� and acknowledged that his expert performance sliding his child鈥檚 car seat into the back of the royal four-wheel drive was a well-drilled exercise.
鈥淏elieve me, it wasn鈥檛 my first time. And I know there鈥檚 been speculation about that. I had to practice, I really did,鈥� he said.
William and his wife鈥檚 assured, do-it-yourself performance in front of the hospital helped cement the couple鈥檚 image as the modern face of Britain鈥檚 monarchy. But William said the decision to take his own baby in hand and drive home in the glare of the international press was a way of establishing his independence.
鈥淚 very much feel if I can do it myself, I want to do it myself,鈥� he said. 鈥淎nd there are times where you can鈥檛 do it yourself and the system takes over or it鈥檚 appropriate to do things differently. But, I think driving your son and your wife away from hospital was really important to me.鈥�
As for the nearly 1-month-old baby, William referred to him as 鈥渁 little bit of a rascal鈥� who he said reminded him of his younger brother, Prince Harry.
Striking a slightly exasperated tone familiar to many new fathers, he said he wished Prince George would settle down a little.
鈥淎t the moment, the only legacy I want to pass on to him is to sleep more and maybe not have to change his nappy so many times.鈥�
The interview is part of a one-hour CNN documentary, 鈥淧rince William鈥檚 Passion: New Hope, New Father,鈥� due to air on聽Sept. 15.