Prince William has shared a rare health update on Kate Middleton and King Charles.
The past two years have been some of the most challenging in recent royal history.
In 2024, both Princess Kate Middleton and King Charles III faced cancer diagnoses within weeks of each other, a development that shook the monarchy and brought enormous strain on the Prince of Wales as he sought to protect his young family while fulfilling his royal role.
In January 2024, Middleton underwent major abdominal surgery at The London Clinic, initially believed to be for a non-cancerous condition.
But in March, the Princess of Wales released a heartfelt video message disclosing she was receiving preventative chemotherapy following her operation.
“It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family,” she said at the time, praising Prince William for standing by her side and highlighting the difficulty of explaining her illness to their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
Kate largely retreated from public duties for much of 2024, focusing on her treatment and recovery.
In September, she quietly completed chemotherapy, and in January 2025, she announced the milestone the nation had hoped for: she was in remission.
While the news was widely celebrated, Kate was quick to emphasize that remission did not mean her journey was over.
During a royal engagement in July 2025, she candidly shared: “Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal.’ But actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult. You have to find your new normal, and it takes time. It’s a rollercoaster.”
Just weeks after Kate’s diagnosis, King Charles, then 75, also revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer.
The announcement came in February 2024, following treatment for an enlarged prostate. While Buckingham Palace confirmed it was not prostate cancer, the precise type of cancer has never been disclosed.
The King, now 76, has since continued outpatient treatment, including a short hospital stay earlier this year.
Despite the challenges, he has remained committed to his duties wherever possible, balancing health care with public engagements and state business.
For Prince William, the dual diagnoses of his wife and father created what he later described as the ‘hardest year’ of his life.
Alongside the strain of caregiving and emotional upheaval, he continued to serve as heir apparent, supporting royal functions and managing the household. Protecting his children also became a priority.
Speaking last year, William admitted: “Honestly? It’s been dreadful. From a personal family point of view, it’s been brutal.”
Now, in a rare and heartfelt conversation with actor Eugene Levy for Apple TV+’s The Reluctant Traveler, Prince William has provided a long-awaited update on how both Kate and Charles are faring.
The discussion, which was reported by People, took place at Windsor Castle, where Levy asked the Prince directly about his family’s health.
“Yes, things are good,” William said. “Everything is progressing in the right way, which is all good news.”
Still, he admitted the weight of the past year remains heavy.
“I’d say 2024 was the hardest year that I’ve ever had. Trying to sort of balance protecting the children, Catherine, my father needs a bit of protection, but he’s old enough to do that himself as well.
“It was important my family felt protected and had the space to process a lot of what went on last year – and that was tricky while keeping up with the job.”
He also revealed that the couple’s children have had to adapt to the challenges in their own ways.
“Everyone has their own coping mechanisms for these sorts of things, and children are constantly learning and adapting. We try to make sure we give them the security and safety they need. We’re a very open family, so we talk about things that bother us and trouble us.
“But you never quite know the knock-on effects that it can have. It’s just important to be there for each other and reassure the children that everything is okay.”
In reflecting on the resilience of his loved ones, the Prince of Wales added: “I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done.”
