There is never a good time to discover a parent has cancer. This is a particularly trying time for Prince William.
The heir to the British throne’s father has been diagnosed with cancer, adding to his personal health concerns. His wife Catherine recently underwent stomach surgery, which will keep her out of commission for several months.
Little is known about the Princess of Wales’ surgery, but her prolonged recovery suggests a major operation. With three little children to look after, William’s diary was also cleared. His priority is very clear: family comes first.
With Charles’ honest confession, those intentions are changing. William is now unexpectedly required to take on some of his father’s public-facing tasks because he is the next-in-line. He’s been thrown into a duty that Charles previously performed for the late Queen Elizabeth II: stepping in when the monarch was briefly unavailable, CNN revealed.
Following a three-week vacation, William returned to royal duties in part on Wednesday due to the demands of being the immediate heir. He started things off by holding an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Dressed in his RAF uniform, he grinned cheerfully, dazzling guests and bestowing awards on his father’s behalf.
The prince has “an unwavering commitment to duty and service,” a royal source told CNN, adding that “investitures are an important part of his royal role, celebrating people up and down the country doing incredible things for their communities.”
Later, as the patron of the London Air Ambulance, Charles spoke publicly for the first time about the royal double health concern at a gala banquet in central London.
“I’d want to take this opportunity to thank you for your wonderful expressions of support for Catherine and my father, particularly in recent days. “It means a lot to us all,” William stated.
He then said, “It’s fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather’medical’ focus.” So I thought I’d attend an air ambulance function to get away from it all.”
Aside from those two appearances, he has no other plans for the coming days. This could be due to a school holiday next week, as well as the 41-year-old royal’s continued emphasis on his family.
Charles, who flew to his Sandringham residence following a brief reunion with Prince Harry on Tuesday, is still handling state duties despite undergoing specific treatments. That will offer William considerable leeway because the prince does not appear to be required to handle any constitutional matters. However, his team will work closely with Buckingham Palace to coordinate this.
While it may be some time before we see him again, the Prince of Wales is expected to head the family for the annual Commonwealth Day ceremony, which will be place at Westminster Abbey on March 11.
William will have been surprised by what has happened this week, and the future will undoubtedly be on his mind. The Prince of Wales has never rushed to become King. He is aware that his part of the royal weight is increasing with each passing year and has happily accepted it. He is not afraid to take on the top job one day, but he wants to do other things first.
As William stated during a 2016 interview with the BBC, he believes it is “important to grow into a particular role with the right characteristics and qualities.”
He has shown a desire to be more involved as a parent. Over the past 17 months, he has reimagined his role as Prince of Wales in a distinct manner from his father’s.
William focuses on two important themes: his eco-prize and a five-year strategy to address homelessness, with the goal of achieving demonstrable results. His father’s excellent international links inspired him to increase his own diplomatic efforts by traveling to create ties with Britain’s allies and partners.
With the King’s illness, William, along with Queen Camilla, has become one of the clan’s most visible members. As a result, his time needs increase, and he no longer has as many working royals to rely on as he did previously.
The other eight working family members are continuing their public commitments, and CNN understands they may take on more responsibilities on Charles’ behalf if necessary.
Queen Camilla, for example, has been carrying out a full schedule of public responsibilities in recent weeks and shows no signs of slowing down. Meanwhile, Princess Anne, famed for her no-fuss approach and quietly unwavering service, has already intervened this week with an investiture ceremony on Tuesday.
William’s goal in the coming days and weeks will be to strike a unique balance between his personal and professional duties.