Prince William & Kate Middleton Feel ‘Intense Anxiety’ About Possibly Ascending The Throne Earlier Than Expected As King Charles Battles Cancer, Expert Suggests

Apr 10, 2024

King Charles III ascended the throne in the United Kingdom after the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II. He became king in 2022, following a long wait as the longest-serving heir apparent in British history. 

Charles has experienced fluctuations in popularity, with some periods marked by high levels of public support and others by increased scrutiny or criticism. However, a year after ascending the throne, Charles has proven to be surprisingly popular, with 62% of the UK public giving him their positive seal of approval.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, commonly known as Kate Middleton, married Charles’ first-born son, Prince William, in 2011. Celebrated for her grace, style, and charitable work, Kate has been seen as a supportive figure within the royal family. Her contributions to various causes align well with the monarchy's charitable efforts. As the future queen consort, Kate also plays an important role in representing the monarchy and supporting Charles in his duties as king.

Thus, with Charles and Kate being two of the most popular members of the royal family, news of their health issues in early 2024 led to an outpouring of well wishes and support from their supporters worldwide. On January 17, 2024, Buckingham Palace revealed King Charles III would undergo hospital treatment for an enlarged prostate and that later tests identified a form of cancer for which the monarch would begin treatment. Afterward, Kensington Palace disclosed that Kate had undergone abdominal surgery at the London Clinic and would not return to any public-facing duties for months.

While Charles was lauded for being more transparent about his diagnosis, Kate’s initial silence over her condition led to increasingly bizarre theories and wild rumors. Finally, on March 23, 2024, Kate dropped the bombshell that she had been diagnosed with cancer.

As Charles and Kate took time off from their royal duties, other members of the family stepped up in their absence, particularly their spouses, Queen Camilla and Prince William. As they both faced their health struggles simultaneously, they’ve also been a source of comfort for one another. 

In the same hospital at the same time, Charles reportedly visited Kate by her bedside. The day before Kate announced her cancer diagnosis, she and Charles shared a private lunch together. After sharing the news with the world, a Buckingham Palace representative said the king was “so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did” and that he “remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks.” 

Royal watchers also noted that Charles flew from London to be with Kate at Windsor Castle just hours before her cancer announcement. A source told The Sun that Kate was also keen to see how her 75-year-old father-in-law was coping with his health struggles. The source claimed Kate described her diagnosis to Charles as a “huge shock” but that she was “going to be OK.” 

“It is highly unusual for just the two of them to sit down together like this,” adding they “would have had lots to discuss and share because just weeks earlier the King had begun his course of treatment and dealt with announcing his diagnosis.” 

The insider said the lunch was filled with emotion and affected all parties deeply.

“The King left his lunch feeling very emotional. They are very close and he thinks of Catherine as his daughter. There is no doubt there is a lot they can share and can use each other for support during their own deeply personal cancer battles.”

However, as Charles and Kate continue to put on a brave face during this challenging time, some believe things may not be all smooth sailing under the surface.

Reports have now surfaced that the Waleses are feeling anxious about Charles’ health condition, which may lead to William ascending the throne sooner than expected. Former Vanity Fair and The New Yorker editor Tina Brown revealed that the “turmoil behind the scenes has been intense” for William and Kate.

“The almost simultaneous news of Charles’ cancer has put William and Catherine in frightening proximity to ascending the throne just when they had hoped for a span of years to parent their children out of the public eye. The prospect of it, I am told, is causing them intense anxiety,” Brown wrote.

Brown suggested the pressure has also been piling on the senior members of the royal family, which, after Charles’ hope for a more slimmed-down monarchy following his ascendancy, has dwindled to a fair few. This excludes the likes of the Sussexes Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who left the United Kingdom, as well as Prince Andrew, the Duke of York, whose association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein led to his name being tarnished and his role within the royal family significantly diminished. Brown indicated this has “put William and Catherine under unmanageable pressure.”

“Catherine is battling more – much more – than cancer. A tidal wave of premature responsibility is crashing in her and William’s direction. Frozen, unready and with Catherine now seriously unwell, the Prince and Princess of Wales await the awesome burden of the crown,” Brown remarked.

Brown also pointed out how, as the royal family’s most popular figure, Kate, in particular, would feel the strain of the public’s eye most. She wrote:

“The future of the monarchy hangs by a thread, and that thread is her.”

Do you feel Prince William and Kate are ready to ascend the throne? What do you think their reign would look like? Let us know, then pass this along to friends and family to get their take on the matter, too.