Prince William endured what insiders describe as the "lowest" period of his life as both his wife, Kate Middleton, and his father, King Charles III, battled cancer, while rumors of marital troubles and alleged infidelity swirled around him. Former royal aide Jason Knauf, once one of William's most trusted advisors, has revealed the staggering emotional toll on the future king, shedding new light on how the shocking series of events unfolded.
Speaking in a candid interview, Knauf stated, "It was awful, absolutely awful. It's the lowest I've ever seen him," after learning of Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis. The revelation, first reported by RadarOnline.com, highlighted how Prince William was blindsided when his wife's health crisis emerged, only to be compounded by the devastating news that his father, King Charles, had also been diagnosed with cancer within weeks.
"I couldn't believe it," Knauf added, recounting how both diagnoses hit the royal family in rapid succession. William's year was further rocked by rampant online speculation and conspiracy theories, particularly surrounding the Princess of Wales's absence from public life before her diagnosis was made public.
The heir to the throne also had to contend with persistent cheating rumors involving socialite and close neighbor Rose Hanbury. Allegations of a rift between Hanbury and Middleton reignited during this period, stoking headlines and adding further pressure to William's strained personal life.
Knauf revealed that Prince William and Princess Kate delayed publicly disclosing her illness in order to prioritize their children. "They didn't want to say yet that she had cancer because they hadn't told the children and they were still working through how to tell the children," Knauf explained.
In a separate interview, Prince William later described the past year as "probably the hardest year in my life." Speaking to reporters at the end of his visit to South Africa, he acknowledged, "It's been dreadful... trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult."
Kate Middleton, now 43, has since announced she is in remission after completing treatment. She made a surprise appearance at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, expressing gratitude to the care team. "I wanted to take the opportunity to say thank you to The Royal Marsden for looking after me so well during the past year," she wrote on Instagram, adding, "My heartfelt thanks goes to all those who have quietly walked alongside William and me as we have navigated everything."
Knauf, who also previously worked for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, discussed how the very public rift between Prince William and Prince Harry has added to the strain. "It's very difficult to have this stuff play out in the public eye... it's been hard and sad, especially for all of us who know both of them," he said. He emphasized that William has chosen to keep his thoughts private, noting, "I worked really closely with the two of them and we had lots of great times."
Knauf's loyalty and service to the royal family were recognized in 2023 when he was honored as a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order. Prior to his royal tenure, Knauf held various prominent roles in government and finance, including positions at HM Treasury and the Royal Bank of Scotland.
In a lighter moment during the 60 Minutes Australia documentary, Knauf addressed Prince William's new beard, stating, "I love it. I think it's great." He joked, "If Catherine didn't like it, it wouldn't be there."
The documentary, titled Where There's a Will, currently airing on Australia's Channel 9, delves deep into the unprecedented challenges Prince William has faced, providing a rare glimpse behind palace walls into a year marked by illness, family discord, and intense public scrutiny.
