Prince William voices agony over Kate Middleton and King Charles' double cancer diagnosis

Prince Williamhas opened up for the first time about the devastating impact his wife and father's cancer diagnosis had on his family. The Prince of Wales candidly discussed his family's health battles in a new interview.

The Royal Family were left devastated by a double cancer diagnosis in the family just months apart. In February 2024, Buckingham Palace announced King Charles had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer following a prostate exam.

In March 2024 the Princess of Wales revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer following tests that were conducted after major abdominal surgery in January.

• Tom Skinner supported by Strictly Come Dancing cast as he's dealt huge blow
• BBC One suffers live error as Panorama special pulled off air

Speaking in a new interview with Canadian actor Eugene Levy for his The Reluctant Traveler series, William opens up about how the family coped through such troubling times. William said having his father and wife sick at the same time was like "having the rug pulled from underneath you".

He admitted the experience has taken him to some 'not great places.'

Speaking very candidly about the health of his family, he admits: "We’ve been very lucky, we hadn’t had many illnesses in the family for a very long time. My grandparents lived until they were in the high 90s.

"So, they were the vision of fitness, and stoicism, and resilience if you like. So we’ve been very lucky as a family." He then went on to reference his father King Charles ' cancer diagnosis and his wife Kate's diagnosis.

"But I think, when you suddenly realise that the rug if you were, the metaphorical rug can be pulled from under your feet quite quick at any point. You maybe think to yourself 'It won’t happen to us, we’ll be okay,'" he explained.

"Because I think everyone has a positive outlook, you’ve got to be positive. But when it does happen to you, then it takes you into some pretty not great places."

In January, the Princess of Wales announced she was in remission from cancer. Speaking about her own experiences, she said of her battle with cancer: "You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment, treatment's done - then it's like 'I can crack on, get back to normal'.

"But actually the phase afterwards is really difficult, you're not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you're not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to."

Kate added: "But it's life-changing for anyone, through first diagnosis or post treatment and things like that, it is a life-changing experience both for the patient but also for the families as well. And actually it sometimes goes unrecognised, you don't necessarily, particularly when it's the first time, appreciate how much impact it is going to have.

"You have to find your new normal and that takes time... and it's a rollercoaster it's not one smooth plane, which you expect it to be. But the reality is it's not, you go through hard times."

King Charles was diagnosed on an undisclosed form of cancer in February 2024 following a planned operation and he continues to do well in his road to recovery.

Sending a heartfelt message to fellow patients at the time, the King said: "While every patient's journey may be different, together you are ensuring that a cancer diagnosis need never mean facing the future without hope and support."

He quoted Dame Deborah James, who died of bowel cancer in 2022, who said: "Have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope."

The King highlighted "the profound impact of human connection - whether in the careful explanation from a specialist nurse, the hand held by a hospice volunteer, or the shared experience in a support group".

He continued: "But as one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity."

*The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy is on Apple TV+.

Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and Threads.