Prince William is sharing a rare health update on his wife, the Princess of Wales, and his father, King Charles, after a difficult year.
Both the Princess of Wales, 43, and the King, 76, announced cancer diagnoses in 2024, and the Prince of Wales reveals how they are doing during a conversation with actor Eugene Levy on the Apple TV+ series The Reluctant Traveler.
Prince William gives hopeful update on Princess Kate’s cancer recovery
During the episode — in which Levy, 78, receives a tour of Windsor Castle from William, 43 — the Schitt’s Creek star asks, “This last year, your wife and father have been ill. How are things now first of all?”
“Yes, things are good,” the royal heir says. “Everything is progressing in the right way, which is all good news.”
“But, it’s been, I’d say 2024 was the hardest year that I’ve ever had,” he adds. “Trying to sort of balance protecting the children, Catherine, my father needs a bit of protection, but he’s, you know, he’s old enough to do that himself as well. But it’s important my family feel protected and have the space to process a lot of the stuff that’s gone on last year, and that was tricky trying to do that and keep doing the job.”
“But you know, we all have challenges that come our way, and it’s important to keep going,” the prince continues.
William opened up to Eugene Levy
Photo: © Courtesy of Apple
Prince William also says that media speculation can be intrusive. Even though it’s part of his royal role, he’s determined to protect his private life and family.
Levy asks about Princess Catherine being in remission, which she announced in January.
“Yes, she is. Yes,” William replies.
The actor adds, “Which is wonderful news,” to which William says, “It’s great news, exactly.”
Levy also inquires how the couple’s three children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — were affected by Catherine’s illness.
William reflected on a difficult period for his family
Photo: © Kensington Palace
Prince William says: “Everyone has their own coping mechanisms for these sorts of things, and children are constantly learning and adapting. We try to make sure we give them the security and the safety that they need. And we’re a very open family, so we talk about things that bother us, and things that trouble us, but you never quite know the knock-on effects that it can have. And so, it’s just important to be there for each other and to kind of reassure the children that everything is okay.”
Eugene Levy and Prince William on ‘The Reluctant Traveler’. Photo: Ian Gavan/Apple TV+
King Charles announced that he had cancer in February 2024, shortly after undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate (it was clarified that he did not have prostate cancer, although the specific type has not been publicly announced). He continued treatment into 2025, including a hospital stay in March due to side effects.
Meanwhile, Princess Catherine publicly revealed her cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy in March 2024 after undergoing major abdominal surgery two months prior. After staying out of the public eye for much of the year, she completed her treatment in September 2024 and announced she was in remission in January 2025.
Princess Catherine, Prince William and King Charles in London on Dec. 3, 2024.
Photo: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
Prince William previously called the time “brutal” while visiting South Africa in November.
“I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done,” he said. “But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”
