Additional Coverage:
- Prince William candidly admits to ‘the hardest year I’ve ever had’ during rare TV interview (foxnews.com)
Prince William Reflects on “Hardest Year” Amid Royal Health Battles
Prince William has openly shared that 2024 marked the “hardest year” he has ever experienced, a sentiment revealed during a candid conversation for a special television appearance. The Prince of Wales is set to feature in an upcoming episode of Eugene Levy’s series, “The Reluctant Traveler,” titled “Living the Royal Life in the UK,” which airs on October 3.
In a preview clip from the episode, William joined Levy for a pint and delved into the profound challenges that have recently impacted the royal family. These include the public cancer diagnoses of both his wife, Kate Middleton, and his father, King Charles.
“I’d say 2024 was the hardest year I’ve ever had,” William stated. “You know, life is sent to test us and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are.”
The Princess of Wales publicly announced her cancer diagnosis in March 2024. Prior to that, Buckingham Palace confirmed King Charles’ cancer diagnosis in February 2024, though specific details regarding the type of cancer or his treatment plan were not disclosed.
These personal struggles were also on William’s mind during an event in South Africa last November for his Earthshot Prize. He described the period as “dreadful” and “probably the hardest year in my life.” He acknowledged the difficulty in “trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track.”
“But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done,” he remarked during a media interview. “But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”
The special episode also features some lighter moments, as William gives the “Schitt’s Creek” star a personal tour of the historic Windsor Castle. “We provide this service for everyone. We do personalized tours everywhere,” William quipped to Levy.
Joined by William and Kate’s black cocker spaniel, Orla, the two men walked the grounds as Levy inquired about the future king’s leisure activities. William’s simple, relatable response was, “Sleep.” He elaborated, “When you have three small children, sleep is an important part of my life,” referencing his three children with Kate Middleton: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.