![\"King](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1759118840_253_2_The-Funeral-Of-The-Duchess-Of-Kent.jpg\")
King Charles III and Prince William(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\nKing Charles, the oldest person to take the throne in British History in 2022, has spoken of “daunting and frightening” times as he continues to battle cancer.King Charles III and Prince William(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
King Charles has called his current cancer battle a “frightening experience” as Prince William prepares to take the reigns.<\/a><\/p>\n Prince William\u2019s role as heir apparent has never been more pressing with King Charles still undergoing cancer treatment and uncertainty over his long-term health.<\/a><\/p>\n The King himself has spoken of the \u201cdaunting and, at times, frightening experience\u201d faced by cancer patients, a rare personal admission that underlines the gravity of the moment, reports the Mirror<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cThe crown will never have felt closer to the Prince than it does now,\u201d says royal commentator<\/a> Katie Nicholl. \u201cHis father\u2019s illness has been a stark reminder that it\u2019s his turn next, and it may not be too far in the distant future.\u201d<\/p>\n Charles, became monarch<\/a> at 73 in 2022, making him the oldest person in British history to ascend the throne, but was diagnosed with cancer just months later. Although he resumed light duties last year, he was hospitalised again this March after suffering adverse side effects from treatment.<\/p>\n The scare was described as a \u201cminor bump in the road\u201d, but the King\u2019s<\/a> determination to press on has been clear. Queen Camilla is known to want her husband to ease back on official commitments, but when asked recently if he might take it easier she replied, \u201cDream on.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking during the couple\u2019s four-day state visit to Italy in April, Camilla<\/a> added: \u201cHe loves his work and it keeps him going.<\/p>\n “I think it\u2019s wonderful, if you\u2019ve been ill and you are recovering, getting better\u2026 now he wants to do more and more and more. That\u2019s the problem.\u201d<\/p>\n On the last day of the trip<\/a>, Charles appeared to refer to his own mortality when planting a tree in Rome. \u201cWell, I do hope I shall live long enough to see a little bit of growth in the tree,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Regardless of his father\u2019s determination to keep going, William\u2019s responsibilities<\/a> have grown in recent months \u2013 with Kate also re-emerging to support her husband at key events.<\/p>\n \u201cWilliam and Kate are at the forefront of the Firm, and have become the monarchy\u2019s biggest asset,\u201d says royal expert Duncan Larcombe. \u201cThey have a pivotal role in ensuring continuity and calm, when at times there\u2019s been anything but that behind the scenes.\u201d<\/p>\n In December 2024, William deputised for the King<\/a> at the reopening of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, during which he had a private meeting with US President-elect, Donald Trump to discuss the relationship between the UK and the US.<\/p>\n In April, he attended the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome in place of Charles<\/a>. Protocol dictates that the sovereign does not attend funerals of foreign religious or political leaders, but William held his own as he joined world politicians and dignitaries for the ceremony, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.<\/p>\n In July, William and Kate<\/a> welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte at RAF Northolt ahead of their state visit, before supporting Charles and Camilla at a state banquet at Windsor Castle, overseen by chef Raymond Blanc.<\/p>\n William and Kate also played a vital part in President Trump and First Lady Melania\u2019s state visit<\/a>, and as Katie said: \u201cThey are very aware of their roles now, and how best to utilise their phenomenal soft power.<\/p>\n “William has mastered that all-important skill of diplomacy, and though he\u2019s visited many politically sensitive areas like the Middle East and Ukraine, he\u2019s never been accused of being overtly political.\u201d<\/p>\n Having demonstrated the qualities needed for any king-in-waiting<\/a>, Katie believes William is more than equipped for what lies ahead: \u201cThe aides I\u2019ve spoken to and those who know him best say he is absolutely prepared.<\/p>\n “Of course, it\u2019s not a moment he wants to think about. He loves his father and wants him to be around for a long time, but when the time comes, he will be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n When that day does finally arrive, William<\/a> will be keen to dial down the pomp. \u201cI\u2019m trying to do it differently and I\u2019m trying to do it for my generation,\u201d he said while in South Africa last November.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m doing it with maybe a smaller \u2018R\u2019 in the royal, if you like, that\u2019s maybe a better way of saying it.\u201d No doubt influenced by his father, his focus as king<\/a> will be on compassion and the wellbeing of everyone, and he added, \u201cIt\u2019s more about impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people.<\/p>\n “And I\u2019m also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do. It helps impact people\u2019s lives. And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.\u201d<\/p>\n William\u2019s<\/a> hopes for a fairer society are perhaps most evident through his Homewards initiative, which seeks to eradicate homelessness in Britain. \u201cI passionately believe that it can, and should, be ended,\u201d he has said.<\/p>\n \u201cI think everyone having a right to a safe and stable home benefits us all.\u201d William has also begun preparing George for his future. The second-in-line turned 12 in July and is becoming more visible at royal events.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cWilliam has the sense to know that the public need to fall in love with George as a youngster. He has to have a presence, and he can\u2019t be kept under lock and key and only introduced when he\u2019s 18. At the same time, William doesn\u2019t want George to have the same level of exposure he and Prince Harry had as kids, so it has to be done very carefully.\u201d<\/p>\n In May, George<\/a> joined his parents and other senior royals at a Palace tea party for Second World War veterans. Showing a maturity beyond his years, he listened attentively and shook hands politely with guests, including 99-year-old Dougie Hyde, who commented. “I was very impressed with the lad\u2019s interest.\u201d<\/p>\n But Duncan believes there will inevitably be tricky conversations between father and son<\/a>. \u201cHow do you explain it to a 12-year-old? William is the only person on the planet who knows how George might be feeling and what it\u2019s like to be in his situation.<\/p>\n “Their closeness will be invaluable as George tries to process the fact he isn\u2019t quite normal. He\u2019s going to be king, he will be front page news all his life \u2013 that would be hard for anyone to get their head around, let alone a boy of his age.\u201d But for now, the focus remains on William, and Duncan says, \u201cFrom what I know of him, I think his desire is to be the \u2018People\u2019s King\u2019, like his mother was the \u2018People\u2019s Princess\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the furore around Diana\u2019s death in 1997, Duncan says popular opinion<\/a> has changed. \u201cBack then it seemed the royal family was crumbling, and the public were asking, \u2018Are we going to put up with these people any more?\u2019 But William and Kate are the future, and I have no doubt they\u2019ll move the monarchy onwards.\u201d<\/p>\n The couple have the highest approval rating of all current royals<\/a>, and Katie says their reign will be extremely popular. \u201cLook at the way they engage, the causes they champion and the support they receive,\u201d she says. \u201cThey\u2019re not aloof or living in an ivory tower, and I think they will be forward-thinking, modern, relatable \u2013 and loved.”<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n![\"King](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1_The-King-Passes-Role-Of-Colonel-In-Chief-Of-The-Army-Air-Corps-To-The-Prince-Of-Wales.jpg\")
Prince William with his father King Charles (Image: Chris Jackson, Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"King](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1_Royal-family.jpg\")
King Charles with Prince William, Kate, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince Louis of Wales during Trooping The Colour 2025 on June 14(Image: Mark Cuthbert\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"SANDRINGHAM,](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/0_GettyImages-2191384727.jpg\")
The King and Queen(Image: Jordan Peck\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/1758265156_494_0_WACOMMUNITYQR3.jpg\")
Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n