It has been a year since Kate Middleton went public with her cancer diagnosis and took a step back from royal duties to focus solely on her health.
And insiders say that Kate – who is now in remission from the disease – and husband Prince William are happier than ever after facing such extreme adversity in 2024.
A source says, ‘William has been incredibly supportive through Kate’s cancer battle - he’s really proven himself to be a remarkable partner when the going gets tough. His big focus has been on making the most of their time and this second chance at life together. That means more romantic dinners, more long walks and more holidays. They’re mapping out summer plans right now, with the usual family trips to Cornwall and the Isle of Scilly, but they’re also looking to take a romantic hideaway holiday just the two of them, and even talking about going back to the Seychelles where they honeymooned.’
Kate, 43, announced her cancer diagnosis in a video released last March, revealing that she was in the early stages of treatment. As she underwent preventative chemotherapy in the following months, her royal commitments were put on the back-burner, leaving William, 42, to take the reins as heir to the throne.
The insider adds, ‘William really stepped up during Kate’s illness - he took on so many extra duties even in the midst of supporting and his considerable heartache worrying about her. He has been the most doting husband, and everyone, including Kate, says so.’
The Princess of Wales’ health woes followed a stressful period for the royals as they handled the fallout of Megxit – when Meghan Markle and husband Prince Harry quit royal life in 2020. Rumours of tension between Kate and Meghan first arose with claims that Meghan had made her cry days before her wedding to Harry in 2018. However, Meghan told Oprah Winfrey in 2021 that it was in fact the other way around. Harry also alluded to the women’s strained relationship, alleging in his 2023 memoir Spare that Kate had once declared that she and Meghan are ‘not close enough’ to ‘talk about her hormones’ following a comment the former Suits actress made about the mum-of-three’s ‘baby brain’.
Elsewhere, royal author Tom Quinn recently suggested that future monarch William is partial to ‘little tantrums’ which Kate is ‘very good at managing’, adding, ‘There’s a joke among the staff that she treats him as the fourth [child] because he occasionally behaves like one.’
And a source adds that - considering everything Kate and William have been through, combined with his own cancer battle – King Charles is encouraging his oldest son to take more time off to keep his marriage strong.
The insider explains, ‘William has spoken to his father and received the go-ahead to tone down the frenetic pace. Charles doesn’t want to see William burn out and he certainly doesn’t want to overload Kate when she’s still fragile. He’s told them both to take whatever time they need.’