Anew Channel 5 documentary about the royal family will reveal an emotional plea King Charles made to his eldest son Prince William following Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis.
The Princess of Wales, 43, announced her cancer diagnosis in a March 2024 video message, just weeks after she underwent abdominal surgery in the January of last year. She then took a break from royal duties to undergo treatment.
Now, according to one pundit, King Charles – whose own battle with cancer was confirmed the month before his daughter-in-law’s – had a touching conversation with Prince William about how best to proceed with official duties as his wife received medical care.
King Charles and Prince William news
Princess Kate confirmed her treatment – which included chemotherapy – was completed in September of last year, six months after it began.
She said at the time: “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.”
Charles said to William: ‘Please don’t make the mistake that I made.’
A few months later, in January 2025, she announced she was in remission. Kate said: “It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery. As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.”
And going by royal commentator Ingrid Seward’s contributions to the new Channel 5 programme, King Charles’ compassion may have contributed to her family’s efforts at rallying around her.
King Charles’ ‘warning’ to William
That’s because, according to the editor of Majesty Magazine, King Charles encouraged Prince William to prioritise time with his family.
Indeed, the heir to the throne did take a step back at the time when it came to royal commitments. But to take such an approach was highly unusual for the royals, who are perceived to put duties first.
Ms Seward claims in William & Catherine: Putting Family First: “Charles said to William: ‘Please don’t make the mistake that I made.’ And: ‘I want you to enjoy your family life.’ And Charles was very insistent about this. He said: ‘I was so dedicated to duty, I couldn’t make way for family life in the way that I should’ve done.’ And that’s what William did.”
‘Charles would put sons before the crown’
Meanwhile, the king’s former butler suggests the monarch has undergone a “big change” to take such a drastically different position.
Grant Harrold, who served the then Prince of Wales between 2004 and 2011, reflects: “I can absolutely see that there’s been a turning point in his life that I’d never thought I’d witness.”
He continued: “For the first time ever you’ve got a king who I think deep down, if his boys need him, would probably put them before the crown. That’s what I believe. And that’s the first time that would have ever have happened in the history of the monarchy.”
