The Prince of Wales has had a momentous 12 months, with his wife Kate Middleton being diagnosed with cancer last year, then his father, the King, being diagnosed with the disease
Prince William at Royal Ascot this week(Image: WireImage)
Prince William, known for his dedication to various causes such as climate change, ocean conservation, and homelessness, has been a man on a mission lately.
In recent times, the Prince of Wales has been involved in work related to issues dear to him, including mental health and the climate crisis, all while participating in royal events like Trooping the Colour and the ancient Order of the Garter ceremony. However, today he will likely set aside his work commitments to spend quality time with the Princess of Wales and their children on his 43rd birthday.
A year ago, the scenario was quite different, with his wife Kate undergoing chemotherapy following her cancer diagnosis, and his father, the King, also battling the disease. William not only provided support to both of them but also stood strong for his three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
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He famously referred to 2024 as “brutal” and notably one of the “hardest of his life.” But with Kate now in remission, things look brighter as he celebrates another birthday, with a slight shift in focus towards duty, reports the Mirror.
William and Kate at Garter Day on Monday (Image: PA)
Over the past week, he has not only attended Trooping and Garter Day but also Royal Ascot, and made a visit with actress Cate Blanchett to Colorifix – a Norwich-based company that produces sustainable dye for clothing and is one of his Earthshot Prize finalists. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond shared with the Mirror that Prince William takes his royal responsibilities with utmost gravity.
In her words, “As he himself has said, if he can’t make some kind of difference, some kind of impact on issues he cares so deeply about – then what is the point of being a prince or of having such a high profile platform?” She went on to state, “So, now that the crisis of the past 18 months has eased, he seems to be working pretty much flat out for much of the time, and I’m sure that will continue.”
William with his three children (Image: Twitter/@KensingtonRoyal)
However, despite his commitment to his royal duties, for William, as well as his wife Kate, family always reigns supreme. According to Jennie, William is an involved dad, often seen on the school run and accompanying his children to their numerous extracurricular activities. This devotion to family was clearly showcased during Easter earlier this year when he chose to forego the customary Easter Sunday service with the King and Queen in Windsor, opting instead for cherished family moments – all with the full support of the King.
Bond believes that, even amidst a hectic schedule, William ensures that family time is non-negotiable. She remarked, “These years are a period when, without the never-ending state duties of a monarch, he can be allowed to concentrate rather more fully on his wife and children. So I think school holidays will continue to be ring-fenced as much as possible, even if he is criticised for doing so.
William during a visit to 2023 Earthshot prize finalist Colorifix with actress Cate Blanchett(Image: PA)
“You just have to look at the pictures of William and his children released for Father’s Day to see how much they adore him and how close they are as a family. This tall, handsome, smiling man is their dad and their protector. And William would never want to put that in any jeopardy.”
It’s not known exactly what type of birthday celebration will be in store for William today – but no doubt it will involve Kate and the kids. Last year, Kate shared an incredible photo of her husband and three children leaping over sand dunes in Norfolk with the message, “Happy birthday Papa, we all love you so much! Cx” His father the King also shared a baby photo of the Prince sitting on his lap.
And Jennie added, “His birthday is on a Saturday this year, so there’ll be a chance for a family celebration. I doubt it will be anything particularly grand – it’s more likely they’ll enjoy a family barbecue and a romp around the garden or beach.”
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