Prince William reflects on ‘brutal’ year as Kate returns to public life

London (AFP) – Catherine, Princess of Wales, takes a major step in her recovery from cancer this weekend by attending official events with her father-in-law King Charles III to honor Britain’s war dead.

Released: 08/11/2024 – 12:40Changed: 08/11/2024 – 12:38

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Her presence at the London events is the first time Catherine, popularly known as Kate, will attend a major royal event since finishing chemotherapy.

Buckingham Palace’s statement came after her husband Prince William described the past year, in which Kate and his father battled cancer, as “brutal” and likely the “hardest” of his life.

Charles, 75, will lead the royal family at two of the most important events in the royal calendar – a commemorative Festival of Remembrance concert on Saturday night and a ceremony at the Cenotaph war memorial on Sunday.

Senior members of the royal family traditionally attend the ceremonial wreath-laying ceremony at the monument outside Parliament, along with political leaders and current and former military personnel, including war veterans.

But the presence of Charles’s 77-year-old wife Queen Camilla is yet to be confirmed after she pulled out of the engagement earlier this week due to a chest infection.

The palace said her presence would be subject to medical advice closer to the time.

William, 42, on Thursday described how he dealt with the situation after both illnesses were announced.

“Honestly, it was terrible. This has probably been the hardest year of my life,” he told reporters at the end of a four-day visit to South Africa as part of his Earthshot Prize initiative.

“So trying to overcome everything else and keep everything on track was really difficult.”

Charles and Catherine appeared together at a major royal event in June for the first time since each was diagnosed with cancer. © HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP

In February, the palace announced that Charles had been diagnosed with undiagnosed cancer and would step back from public life to undergo treatment.

The following month, Kate, also 42, revealed that she too had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy.

Both have since returned to limited public duties, although Head of State Charles, who recently visited Australia and Samoa, is still undergoing treatment.

“Hack”

In September, Katherine said she had completed chemotherapy and was looking forward to doing more “when I can.”

“I’m so proud of my wife, I’m so proud of my dad for dealing with what they did,” William added.

Every year on Remembrance Sunday, wreaths are laid at the Cenotaph war memorial in memory of the British dead in the war. © Rob Pinney/POOL/AFP

“But from a personal family perspective, it was… yeah, it was brutal,” he said.

This year’s William Earthshot Prize ceremony took place on Wednesday in Cape Town.

The initiative recognizes projects that seek new solutions to challenges facing the world’s environment and climate.

William is also part of the five-year Homewards programme, launched by his charity to tackle homelessness in the UK.

When William was told he looked relaxed, he said “he couldn’t be less relaxed this year.”

“It’s more of a case of just getting on with it and keeping going,” he said.

“I like my job, I like to look after myself and make sure I have time for my family too,” he added.

He and Kate have three children: Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

In addition to health concerns, the royal family has faced ongoing tensions this year surrounding William’s ex-brother Harry.

When William was told he looked relaxed, he said “he couldn’t be less relaxed this year.” © GIANLUIGI GERSIA / POOL/AFP

Harry’s ties with his family have become increasingly strained since he and wife Meghan left royal life and moved to California in 2020.

William and Harry used to be close, a bond that strengthened after the death of their mother Princess Diana in 1997. But according to British media reports, they have not spoken to each other for two years.