Prince William is destined to one day wear the crown, with wife Kate Middleton at his side — but what kind of king will he be?
PEOPLE William & Kate: Future King and Queen, out May 23, takes a closer look at the royal couple’s path to the throne and the royal roles they’re preparing to shape together.
Packed with stunning photos and exclusive reporting, this special collector’s edition traces William and Kate’s journeys from childhood to courtship to family life today — offering rare insight into how they’re already stepping into their next roles.
When Prince William, 42, succeeds his father, King Charles, he will become sovereign of the United Kingdom and 14 Commonwealth realms, with Princess Kate, 43, as a steadfast and loving partner.
But after Buckingham Palace’s stunning February 2024 announcement that the 76-year-old King was undergoing cancer treatment, the next chapter has come into sharper focus. “They have been preparing for their future roles sooner than they would have expected,” says royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith.
PEOPLE William & Kate: Future King and Queen, May 23, 2025.
As the heir and the heir’s spouse, Prince William burnishes his stature as an international statesman while Princess Kate gradually returns to public life after stepping back in 2024 to undergo cancer treatment. (She shared in September that she had completed chemotherapy and announced in January that she is now in remission.)
When the time comes for William and Kate to become king and queen, they’re expected to bring a new generation’s energy, as well as the empathy, family focus and commitment to the crown that they demonstrate now.
William and Kate reflect millennial values by using technology and social media to connect with younger generations. They openly prioritize mental health, family wellness and work-life balance — bringing a fresh honesty to royal life. Their focus on issues like climate change, homelessness and child welfare shows a generation committed to real, hands-on change.
While balancing royal duties, they raise their children with a sense of normalcy and prepare them for the future. Their practical approach respects tradition but pushes to modernize the monarchy. Above all, William and Kate lead with a service-first mindset, using their platform to make a positive difference, true to the spirit of their millennial generation.
It has been a turbulent few years amid a familial rift with Prince Harry, the deaths of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth, and the near-simultaneous cancer diagnoses of the King and Kate — and an era that the Prince and Princess of Wales have weathered together.
Despite the trials, the Prince and Princess of Wales’ children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, remain the center of their world and first priority.
“The Waleses have gone to great lengths to provide their three children with as normal a childhood as possible… But they’ve also long been installing a broader sense of duty,” former PEOPLE senior writer Richard Jerome writes in “William & Catherine: A Millennial Monarchy” in the new issue.
Prince William, Prince George, Prince Louis, Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte on the balcony of Buckingham Palace watch a flypast commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day on May 5, 2025 in London.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Illustrating that balance, Jerome recounts a poignant moment from December 2023, when Kate brought her children to a baby bank near their home in Windsor. “You’re the volunteers for this evening,” she told them, as they sorted clothes and toys for families in need.
“At the end of their shift, she put her arm around George and said, ‘You can see how rewarding this kind of work is, knowing you are helping out others,’ ” Jerome writes — a quiet but powerful lesson in service.
Kate has emerged as the most popular member of the royal family — and one who wields great influence.
“She takes things seriously — and thank goodness for that,” says a source close to the royal household.
Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte on June 15, 2024 in London, England.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Adds Simon Lewis, former Buckingham Palace communications chief: “She’s very much seen as a player at the center of team Windsor.”
Kate has developed a toughness behind the scenes as she supports her husband. “She has this public image of being nice and smiley,” royal author Valentine Low says. “But she is actually strong-minded, strong-willed and prepared to fight for what she wants and what she thinks is right.”
As she helps shape the next generation, Kate’s unwavering partnership with William and her rock-solid relationship with her own family have given the future queen the tools she needs to succeed.
Kate Middleton and Prince William arrive to attend the celebrations for Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey on March 10, 2025 in London.
Samir Hussein/WireImage
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“The last five years have been a nightmare for them in every possible way — the past year even more so,” royal historian Amanda Foreman previously told PEOPLE about what William and Kate have been through.
“That either crushes a marriage or it brings them together. And just in time, frankly — if there was ever a time when the country required stability, this is it. The international stage is so unstable, it is rather extraordinary to see how both have risen to the occasion.”
PEOPLE’s new special edition William & Kate: Future King and Queen is available now.