Prince William is opening up about one of the hardest seasons of his life — his wife Kate Middleton’s 2024 cancer diagnosis. In a rare and emotional conversation with actor Eugene Levy for Apple TV+’s The Reluctant Traveler, the future king reflected on the painful reality of watching a loved one face serious illness.
“We’ve been very lucky; we hadn’t had many illnesses in the family for a very long time,” William said in the episode, titled “Living the Royal Life in the UK.” “My grandparents lived until they were in their high 90s. They were the vision of fitness, and stoicism, and resilience, if you like. So we’ve been very lucky as a family.”
But then, life changed suddenly.
“I think when you suddenly realize that the rug, if you were — the metaphorical rug — can be pulled from under your feet quite quick at any point,” William said. “You maybe think to yourself, ‘It won’t happen to us, we’ll be OK.’ 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.”
The past two years have tested the royal family deeply. Along with Kate’s cancer diagnosis in March 2024, William’s father, King Charles, was also diagnosed with cancer just a month earlier.
“I’d say ’23-’24 was the hardest year I’ve ever had,” the 43-year-old prince admitted. “You know, life is sent to test us, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are.”
Kate, who was 43 at the time of her diagnosis, revealed in March that she was undergoing chemotherapy. She remained largely out of the public eye as she focused on recovery, later sharing in September that she was cancer-free.
“As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment,” she said in a heartfelt statement. “The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”
By January, she described her remission as “a relief,” adding, “As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal. I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead. There is much to look forward to. Thank you to everyone for your continued support.”
Even now, the princess has acknowledged that the road to recovery is not a straight line. During a July visit to Colchester Hospital, she said, “You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment… but actually, the phase afterward is really, really difficult.”
William, meanwhile, has continued to balance royal duties with family life. When Levy asked what he does in his downtime, the prince joked, “Sleep. When you have three small children, sleep is an important part of my life.”
In moments like these, William’s vulnerability offers a rare glimpse behind the palace walls — a reminder that even royals face life’s hardest trials with faith, family, and resilience.