Prince William has spoken candidly about how 2024 became one of the most difficult years of his life, as both his wife, Princess Kate, and his father, King Charles, faced cancer diagnoses.
The Prince of Wales, 43, will appear in the upcoming episode of Apple TV+’s The Reluctant Traveler on October 3. Host Eugene Levy, 78, travels to Windsor Castle after receiving an invitation letter from William, where the future king personally gives him a tour of the estate.
A Lighthearted Tour with Eugene Levy
In a preview clip, William is heard joking with Levy as they stroll through the grounds. “We provide this service for everyone. We do personalised tours everywhere,” he quipped.
When asked what he does during downtime at home, William replied with a smile: “Sleep! When you have three small children, sleep is an important part of my life.”
Later, the pair sat in a local pub sharing a pint, where William opened up about the challenges of the past year. “I’d say 2024 was the hardest year I’ve ever had,” he admitted. “You know, life is sent to test us, as well. And being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are.”
The Weight of Family Illness
Reflecting further, William spoke about how deeply his wife’s and father’s illnesses affected him, especially as his family had previously enjoyed decades of good health.
“We’ve been very lucky; we hadn’t had many illnesses in the family for a very long time. My grandparents lived until they were in the high nineties,” he said. “They were the vision of fitness, and stoicism, and resilience, if you like.”
But the Prince acknowledged how quickly life can change: “When you suddenly realise that the rug, the metaphorical rug, can be pulled from under your feet quite quick at any point… You maybe think to yourself, ‘It won’t happen to us, we’ll be okay.’ Because I think everyone has a positive outlook, you’ve got to be positive. But when it does happen to you, then it takes you into some pretty not great places.”
King Charles and Princess Kate’s Health Battles
Both Charles and Kate underwent medical procedures in January 2024. The King received treatment for an enlarged prostate, while Kate underwent what the Palace described as “planned abdominal surgery.”
In February, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles had been diagnosed with cancer following further tests after his procedure. A statement confirmed: “His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties.”
A month later, Kate revealed her own cancer diagnosis in a moving video message. “Tests after the operation found cancer had been present. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventive chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment,” she explained.
“This of course came as a huge shock,” she added, noting that she and William worked hard to manage the news privately for the sake of their young children. “It has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them. And to reassure them that I am going to be okay.”
By September 2024, Kate had completed chemotherapy, and in January 2025, she announced she was officially in remission. Since then, she has gradually returned to her royal duties, balancing work with her ongoing recovery.
William Describes the Year as ‘Brutal’
As the year drew to a close, William reflected publicly on the toll it had taken. During a solo visit to South Africa, he admitted: “It’s been dreadful. It’s probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.”
He also paid tribute to both his wife and his father for their courage, adding: “I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been brutal.”