King & Kate ill:

Prince William struggles with ‘immense’ pressure

Prince William has many worries on his shoulders at the moment.(Bild: APA/AFP/POOL/Oli SCARFF)

In recent months, Prince William has had to deal with a barrage of personal and professional challenges after both his wife, Princess Kate, and his father, King Charles III, were diagnosed with cancer within weeks of each other. 

With two of the most prominent royals out of action, William, 41, has taken on triple duties, having to stand in for Kate and Charles at official appearances while holding down the fort at home with George, 10, and his younger siblings, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5, so their mother can undergo her preventative chemotherapy.

"Immense pressure"
Of course, a nanny and Princess Kate's mother Carole Middleton are always on hand to support him, but it is still "very stressful" for him, a source told US Weekly magazine. William is struggling with "immense pressure".

 "Deep sense of duty"
"William feels a deep sense of duty to maintain the stability of the monarchy and give the people confidence that everything will be OK. It's an immense responsibility."

It is no secret that the monarchy is currently in crisis. Since ascending the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, King Charles (75) has had to recognize that his plan to downsize the monarchy is increasingly failing.

Royal failures
According to royal historian Gareth Russell, "Charles was always expected to have three working siblings and two working children and their wives, and that would have been a sustainable basis."

Instead, Prince Harry, 39, and his wife Meghan Markle, 42, fled the UK - and their royal duties - to start a new life in Montecito, California, in 2020. His brother Prince Andrew (64) is accused of sexually abusing a young woman while maintaining a friendship with US pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

He cannot appear for the King. Besides William, that leaves Queen Camilla, who is doing her best, as well as Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh and Princess Anne.

Not to be envied
The fact that the King and Princess of Wales are now battling cancer at the same time shows that there are gaps that William will try to fill.

After all, Princess Kate is considered the "secret weapon of the monarchy" and is difficult to replace. In recent polls, she is even the most popular royal among the British.

William is not to be envied, according to palace insiders. "He has young children, a sick wife and father, and memories of losing his mother [Princess Diana] at an early age," said royal biographer Tessa Dunlop. "There is a lot at stake and he needs support."

Rallied to be strong for the family
But if anyone can handle it, it's the former rescue pilot. "After William and Kate's diagnoses, he withdrew for a few days," said another source. "He canceled all appointments and spent time with Kate. Then he picked himself up again because he knew it was up to him to be strong for the whole family."

Little things that make life more normal
At home in Adelaide Cottage, he tries to maintain a sense of stability. "He helps the children with their homework and reads to them in the evenings," the source explained, "little things to make life more normal for them."