For the Prince of Wales, 2024 was a year that changed everything. Within weeks, both his wife, Princess Kate, and his father, King Charles III, were diagnosed with cancer — plunging the royal family into a period of fear, hope, and resilience.
Balancing his duties as heir to the throne with raising Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, William reflected on those months during a candid conversation with actor Eugene Levy for the Apple TV+ series The Reluctant Traveler, set to premiere October 3.
“I’d say 2024 was the hardest year I’ve ever had,” William admitted. “Life is sent to test us, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are.”
Princess Kate announced her remission in January 2025, after months of preventative chemotherapy. The news was met with nationwide relief, but the Princess later revealed that recovery brought its own challenges.
During a royal engagement in July, she said: “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.”