William says past year “probably hardest in my life”

[PrettyFlyforaMaiTai]

William has opened up about how difficult the past year has been with the cancer diagnosis of both his wife and father.

It’s nice to see some light being shed on the perspective of the loved ones of cancer sufferers. I hope that this might inspire a new patronage to help those in a similar position, especially knowing how privileged his family are in terms of comfort, wealth and access to top medical specialist.

news.sky.com/story/prince-william-says-past-year-probably-the-hardest-in-my-life-after-king-and-kate-diagnosed-with-cancer-13250126

Bless him. I understand where he's coming from, seeing people who you love deeply, suffer, and to fear losing them, and to not be able to do anything except hope and pray and love and support them, and to try and keep the show on the road in terms of the rest of your life - yes brutal is the right word for it. I think millions of Brits will relate.

I really like William, I didn't used to think much of him but over the past, say 6,7 years he's really showing who he is. He's a genuine person, he doesn't try to be something he's not, he's humble, he doesn't lecture or patronise the public like his brother and sister-in-law do. And you can see what a fantastic father he is. Yeah, loads of time for William, lovely honest interview.

It looks as it was expecting to talk about Earthshot, but also responded to a more personal question.

It must have been so hard for him trying to keep it all together for the kids. The prospect of losing his last remaining parent and his wife at the same time must have been terrifying.

I find this paragraph very powerful in conveying how difficult it’s clearly been for him.

”His answer emphasises just how difficult it has been for him, but in many ways will be seen as an extraordinary statement when you consider the years of upset he endured around the traumatic death of his mother Princess Diana”

I think he would say absolutely anything to garner sympathy and deflect from C4 Dispatches. I am embarrassed for the family that they have to sink so low. We would not have heard a word were it not for their sudden drop in public respect, IMHO.

Blimey, I’m by no means an apologist for the royal family.I think they’re in danger of being very out of touch in the way they live etc. and need to go more the Scandi route but they’re still human beings and to find your youngish wife has cancer when your children are so young is a very scary thing for anyone. Worse I imagine when you lost your own mother at a young age and know the effect that’s had.

I hope that this might inspire a new patronage to help those in a similar position, especially knowing how privileged his family are in terms of comfort, wealth and access to top medical specialist.

You'd think wouldn't you?

But given he's dropping patronages like hot cakes on the pretext of concentrating on his 'big projects' I'm not holding my breath.

Yes, not just finding things difficult for himself, but worried about the impact on his children.

The flack William received by the media, on social media etc., including MN, for having not attended a memorial service because his wife had just been given a cancer diagnosis was appalling.

It’s Interesting how when the RF put their family first they receive the most criticism.

I quite liked that he said he didn't enjoy the responsibility.

Lots of people call him workshy etc, and it could feed right into that, but acknowledging that you don't enjoy a level of responsibility is normal.

I'm sure it's a coincidence that this has come out after the recent expose. Anyone would think it was a PR ploy to garner support.

Yes, timing is suspicious. And William has form for throwing Kate under the bus when convenient (the photoshop debacle). This time using her health to distract is quite low. I'm not sure I would like my DH publicly discussing how my cancer has been difficult for him.

I suspect William is going to radically change the RF when he becomes King - much more along the Dutch model.

I can not see him wanting his children to have the same life as he has had and with his wife being ill, well I am sure this has made him very much contemplate the future of his family.

I think anyone who had their fairly young spouse diagnosed with cancer a pretty dreadful year.

in terms of it being PR - I assume (could be wrong) that earthshot was in the diary before the recent documentary??

I have terminal cancer, and my husband has to look after me and our children whist continuing to work full time to keep our heads above water financially.

This incredibly hard for him. Whilst I have every sympathy for the Prince of Wales, he is not facing a fraction of the practical and financial pressures that so many families in their position have to deal with, which makes everything so much harder, and that needs to be acknowledged.

Earth shot will have been in the calendar for many months, if not longer. It is far more likely Channel 4 decided to release the documentary to coincide with it to maximise their PR.

Threw her under a bus?!?!

She made a mistake, she owned it. What was W supposed to do?

And it was all a big nothingburger anyway - or would have been except for bile directed at W, driven by Bouzey and the Sussex Squad, that followed.

And here again in your post, more of the same evidence-free W-is-a-bad-man take on events.

Total nonsense. There was all that speculation that Charles was going to be less of a pompous king and “slim down” the monarchy, he’s tinkered at the edges but done nothing meaningful. William will be the same.

Absolutely 😢. I’m so sorry for what you’re going through.

I think W will change things. He had a parent who made sure that he got a taste of life outside that 1950s-vibe bubble that the Late Queen insisted on maintaining well after its sell-by date. (Diana was, herself, a moderniser. She blasted away the rule that the royal women should Always Wear Hats.)

I think he will be the one to ease the way towards a Scandi-style monarchy.

So sorry for all you and your family are going through Twig.

I find PW and his old man two-faced.
PW wants to "end homelessness" yet houses his tenants in cold draughty homes like a feudal lord.
He goes on about the environment whilst selling mining rights and going everywhere by effing helicopter.
His family have suffered the effects of cancer. Well, this isn't a thing exclusively affecting him. It affects thousands of families all over the country.
And there are children who grow up with only one parent or no family at all. His is not a unique experience.
I get he's trying to be a bit more "normal" & less distant than his forebears, but really? I'm supposed to empathise with a man who is disgustingly rich and privileged? A man who says one thing and does another?
I tave no sympathy. The wheels of the RF PR machine are plainly at work here. It's all a bit convenient and I'm not fooled.
Rant over.

I was really surprised at the Sky report talking about the Princess being treated for pre-cancerous cells. I had thought it was cancer, which is quite different.

"I suspect William is going to radically change the RF when he becomes King - much more along the Dutch model."
What, like his grasping hypocritical dad did? Gone very quiet on that front.

I think this is rubbish. The RF aren't doing anything that their predecessors haven't been doing for centuries.

I'm so sorry to hear that. It must be horrendous for you and your family.

William however has a different 'reference point' in his life - he's used to a degree of privilege that most of us can't even imagine, but serious illness is a leveller.