The recent cancer diagnoses of King Charles and Kate Middleton have not only shaken the royal family but have also "plunged" Prince William and the Princess of Wales into "tremendous anxiety" about their future roles as monarch and consort, according to royal biographer and former Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown.
Speaking on CBS Mornings, Brown highlighted the significant pressures the royal couple has been facing behind palace walls, particularly in light of the king's health challenges. "They've had to deal with an enormous amount," she said. "Because what people haven't really thought about is the news Charles, the king, has cancer, which came right as her own operation happened, that brings them much closer to the throne."
King Charles, 75, was admitted to the hospital in January for treatment of an enlarged prostate, around the same time Kate underwent major abdominal surgery. A week after his discharge, Buckingham Palace announced that tests conducted during his procedure had revealed cancer, putting the monarch on a treatment plan.
This revelation has drawn attention to the line of succession, with Prince William being next in line to inherit the throne. "Whatever the prognosis is for Charles, he's 75 and he has cancer," Brown noted. "That brings William and Kate far closer to being king and queen. That, I'm told, has plunged them into tremendous anxiety."
The royal couple is not only grappling with the prospect of ascending to the throne sooner than anticipated but also with Kate's own shocking cancer diagnosis, all while raising their three young children-Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
"They're dealing with these two things," Brown explained. "They may be king and queen much quicker than they thought-maybe even in the next couple of years if things go wrong-and, she has this shocking diagnosis which she never ever thought she would have plus three young children who she has to tell and handle...I think there was genuine chaos behind the scenes and they've been trying to juggle it all."
On March 22, Kate shared a heartfelt video message revealing that she had been diagnosed with cancer following her surgery in January and was undergoing preventative chemotherapy. In the 371-word statement, the princess expressed gratitude for the support she had received and emphasized the importance of focusing on her recovery while reassuring her children that she would be okay.
Despite the challenges faced by the royal family, there have been some positive signs regarding King Charles' health. Buckingham Palace recently announced that the monarch would lead members of the royal family to church on Easter Sunday for the annual service at St. George's Chapel in the grounds of Windsor Castle. This will be the biggest event the king has attended in person since his cancer diagnosis was made public.
As the royal family navigates these difficult times, the support and love they offer one another have become more crucial than ever. A spokesperson for the palace stated that King Charles was "so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did" and that both he and Queen Camilla "will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time."
