Prince William Admits Family’s Cancer Diagnoses Took Him to ‘Not Great Places’

Prince William is speaking candidly about the health challenges faced by Kate Middleton and King Charles.

The Prince of Wales, 43, shared the revealing comments in a preview of his upcoming Oct. 3 appearance on Apple TV+’s The Reluctant Traveler with Eugene Levy.

In a teaser for the episode titled “Living the Royal Life in the U.K.,” the heir to the throne reflects on the resilience his family has enjoyed — and the reality that life can change in an instant.

“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 nineties,” Prince William says on Eugene Levy‘s travel series, referring to his late grandparents Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip.

“They were the vision of fitness, and stoicism, and resilience, if you like. So we’ve been very lucky as a family,” Prince William continues. “But I think, when you suddenly realize 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.’ Because I think everyone has a positive outlook, you’ve got to be positive,” he says. “But when it does happen to you, then it takes you into some pretty not great places.”

The British royal family faced a difficult year in 2024 as it was announced that King Charles, 76, and Princess Kate, 43, were both diagnosed with cancer.

Buckingham Palace announced the King’s cancer diagnosis in February 2024 following care for a benign enlarged prostate (a spokesman clarified he does not have prostate cancer). His cancer treatment remains ongoing.

In March 2024, Princess Kate shared that she was also undergoing treatment for cancer following an abdominal surgery that January. The Princess of Wales said in September that she completed chemotherapy and shared in January of this year that she is in “remission.”

In another preview of his appearance on the season 3 episode of The Reluctant Traveler, Prince William described 2023-2024 as his most challenging year. 

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“I’d say ‘23-’24 was the hardest year I’ve ever had,” William told Levy as they sat down together at a pub. “You know, life is sent to test us and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are.”

Prince William’s episode of The Reluctant Traveler premieres Friday, Oct. 3 on Apple TV+.