Prince William has spoken candidly about the turmoil his family faced after both his wife and father were diagnosed with cancer, calling 2024 “the hardest year I’ve ever had.”
Balancing Duty and Family Struggles
In a conversation with actor Eugene Levy for the Apple TV+ series The Reluctant Traveler, premiering October 3, the Prince of Wales reflected on the back-to-back health crises that shook the monarchy.
“I’d say 2024 was the hardest year I’ve ever had,” he admitted. “Life is sent to test us, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are.”
William has spent the past year juggling his royal role with caring for Princess Kate, who underwent preventative chemotherapy, supporting King Charles after his own cancer diagnosis, and raising the couple’s three children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
Kate’s Difficult Recovery
Princess Kate confirmed her cancer remission in January 2025, bringing relief to the nation after months of treatment. But she has since revealed that the aftermath has been far from simple.
“Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal.’ But actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult,” she explained during a July engagement. “You have to find your new normal, and it takes time. It’s a rollercoaster.”
King Charles, meanwhile, continues outpatient care for his own undisclosed form of cancer, diagnosed in February 2024.
A Family Still Healing
Now, eight months after Kate’s remission, William admitted the scars remain fresh. “Honestly? It’s been dreadful. From a personal family point of view, it’s been brutal,” he said, while praising both his wife and father for their courage.
The Prince’s words underline that even with encouraging medical progress, the Wales family — and the monarchy — are still navigating a long road of recovery, both privately and publicly.