Kate Middleton and Prince William at the coronation in May 2023.Photo: Neil Mockford/Getty
Duty is calling forPrince William.
As he continues to focus on his family and care for his wifeKate Middleton, who is recovering fromabdominal surgery, he is also prioritizing his duty to the monarchy and his father,King Charles, who is was recentlydiagnosed with cancer.
Those very different demands have come into focus as the Prince of Wales, 41, takes a week off from royal engagements to look after Princess Kate, 42, and their three children —Prince George, 10,Princess Charlotte, 8, andPrince Louis, 5 during the children’s school break. As he does, there are ongoing discussions about what, if anything, he should do in terms of stepping in for his father, whose treatment for an as-yet-unnamed cancer continues.
Adds Ellen Convery, former soccer pro: “I sent my best wishes to the King and obviously to Kate, the Princess of Wales as well. He was lovely. He really appreciated it. I just wanted to send my best wishes.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton in Wales in Sept. 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Later that night, the princethanked the publicfor the outpouring of support they’d given the family in recent weeks at a charity gala for London’s Air Ambulance.
A friend told PEOPLE of Prince William’s return to public life, “He is coping remarkably well considering his wife had surgery and he only found out his father’s news recently.”
Princess Kate, whom Prince William told one award recipient had received great care from two “amazing and kind” nurses, “continues to progress well” Kensington Palace officials tell PEOPLE.
A clear indication of her improving health came when she wasable to travel to Anmer Hall in Norfolk, about 140 miles from Windsor, late last week for their children’s half-term vacation from school.
Prince William and Kate Middleton and their family in July 2023.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
For the Princess of Wales, the break will be a welcome change of scene. She enjoys living at Adelaide Cottage in Windsor, but Anmer Hall is a place of many happy memories of living there when their children were very young, including during much of the COVID lockdowns. They spent their Christmas break there before Kate’s diagnosis, joining local friends and families for outings, as well as enjoying the holiday festivities with the royal family.
Being in Norfolk also enables Prince William to be close to King Charles, 75, during the time his father is based there when not receiving treatment for his cancer. William visited his wife many of the 13 days she was in the hospital last month, and he will do the same during the time he and King Charles are near neighbors in Norfolk this week and when he can at Windsor, PEOPLE understands.
King Charles, whowas pictured walking to and from churchat Sandringham with Queen Camilla on Sunday, is keen to be seen as much as possible during his cancer treatment.
While the separate staff at Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace respectively are in “constant dialogue,” there hasn’t been anything specific that William has been asked to do on behalf of his father. Last week, a source who knows King Charles told PEOPLE that he wouldn’t burden his son unnecessarily.
“He wouldn’t want to put that pressure on William,” a source close to the royal householdtold PEOPLE. “He has always wanted to save his children from having that pressure too early and that will remain. Particularly as William has other priorities [with Kate].”
After his children’s school break, Prince William is expected to resume a fuller diary of activities as well as take up the reigns of the school drop-offs and pick-ups.
Prince William will be seen “more than we have done in the last few weeks,” a source adds, as he tackles outings covering the range of his interests. That would be a sure, and positive, sign that Princess Kate is doing well enough to enable him to do so.
He is likely to be at the Commonwealth Day service on March 11 while Queen Camilla, 76, will represent her husband. There is also a chance he will be at the biggest night for British film, the BAFTA ceremony, on Sunday, though his appearance will depend on the situation at home.
Queen Camilla, King Charles, Prince William and Princess Kate in July 2023.YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty
YUI MOK/POOL/AFP via Getty
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At the end of the month, both William and Kate will have new executives running their offices. A new private secretary in the form of Ian Patrick is coming for the Prince of Wales. A former diplomat, Patrick worked at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in international peacekeeping in Bosnia and Herzegovnia. He is also a trustee of the charity Crohns and Colitis U.K.
source: people.com
