Media: Prince William and Kate Middleton prepare for the role of monarchs

Sooner than expected

Kate Middleton and Prince William are facing the reality that they may become King and Queen much earlier than anticipated, as King Charles III continues his battle with cancer.

«While the King is fulfilling his duties with his usual determination, he has had to come to terms with the limitations imposed by cancer treatment. As a result, William has started taking on more responsibilities, and he and Kate have begun preparing for their future roles sooner than expected,» royal expert Sally Bedell Smith told Page Six.

King Charles III was crowned in May 2023, but less than a year later, in February 2024, the monarch announced that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer following a routine hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement. Experts note that this is a calm before the storm for the Prince and Princess of Wales.

«They are next in line for the biggest job of their lives, and while Kate’s health remains a priority, it has also allowed everyone to step back and reassess what is important right now,» Sally added.

A clear sign of William preparing for his future role was his recent visit to the official reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris on behalf of his father. For the 42-year-old Princess of Wales, this year has also been challenging. Catherine’s last public appearance was at the fourth annual Together at Christmas service at Westminster Abbey, where she was joined by Prince William and their children.