Prince William rejects criticism he is 'work shy'

Prince William, centre and, Prince Harry look at Star Wars character the droid C3P0 as they visit the creature and droid department at Pinewood studios in Iver Heath, west of London on Tuesday April 19, 2016. (Adrain Dennis, Pool Via AP)

LONDON -- Prince William has rejected criticism that he doesn't put enough time into royal duties in interviews before Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday on Thursday.

Dismissing the moniker of "work-shy William," the second-in-line to the throne said in an interview broadcast Wednesday that he's balancing his royal duties with those of a husband, father and air ambulance pilot. William says when the queen is ready to hand over tasks, he'll be the "first person to accept them."

"I think, in the queen I have an extraordinary example of somebody who's done an enormous amount of good and she's probably the best role model I could have in front of me," he told the BBC.

In another interview with Sky News, he offers tribute to the queen and credits her with helping him through the loss of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.

The interviews mark a moment of celebration for the family as the monarch celebrates a milestone, but also underscore that the young royals will carry on what is sometimes described as the "Firm," -- the family business. William was peppered with questions about what he would ultimately like his reign to be like and whether he plans to modernize the monarchy.

"I think the royal family has to modernize and develop as it goes along and it has to stay relevant," William said. "And that's the challenge for me ... I have no idea when that's going to be, and I certainly don't lie awake waiting or hoping for it, because it sadly means that my family have moved on and I don't want that."

William was asked if his son, George, has any sense yet that he's not part of an ordinary family -- whether William and his wife, the former Kate Middleton, have begun to prepare him to accept the fact that he's in the line of succession.

"Well, as far as we're concerned, within our family unit we are a normal family," William said. "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.

"There'll be a time and a place to bring George up and understand how he fits in the world, 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."