In a deeply personal interview, Prince William offered a rare glimpse behind palace walls, revealing that King Charles’ cancer diagnosis was “brutal” and “dreadful,” leading him to “some pretty not great places.”
The royal family has weathered more than its fair share of public scrutiny – but few moments have rocked it quite like the two devastating cancer diagnoses just weeks apart.
The first blow came in February 2024, when Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III had been diagnosed with cancer – a discovery made shortly after undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate. While palace officials clarified it was not prostate cancer, the exact type of cancer remains undisclosed.
The 76-year-old monarch began immediate treatment, which continued into 2025, including a hospital stay in March due to side effects from the therapy.
Despite the secrecy surrounding his condition, the king has maintained a public presence –when possible – determined to carry out his duties amid an ongoing health battle.
Princess Kate also diagnosed with cancer
Then, in March 2024, the royal family was shaken once again. Princess Kate – Williams’ wife – revealed in an emotional video message that she, too, had been diagnosed with cancer. Her diagnosis followed major abdominal surgery she underwent in January.
In an Instagram message to her followers, the princess – who has been in remission since Jan. 2025 – described the past few months as “incredibly tough,” as the family came to terms with the back-to-back medical battles.
‘Hardest year that I’ve ever had’
Speaking to Canada’s Eugene Levy during the filming of The Reluctant Traveler, the Prince of Wales reflected on what it’s been like to have both his wife and father facing life-threatening illnesses at the same time, People reports.
