Prince William was deeply affected by Princess Kate’s cancer diagnosis with royal author Ingrid Seward suggesting that his wife’s illness brought back painful memories back.
Kate revealed her diagnosis in an emotional video message filmed at Windsor in March 2024, following a period of intense public speculation about her health and absence from royal duties.
For William, the situation reportedly carried an especially personal weight because of his experience losing Diana when he was just 15 years old.
Writing in her book Catherine & Diana, Seward draws comparisons between the two women who have held the title of Princess of Wales and examines the effect that their experiences have had on William.
Seward described Kate’s diagnosis as more than a medical crisis for the future King, arguing that it also reopened an emotional wound associated with the loss of his mother.
“When Catherine fell ill, it wasn’t just a medical crisis. It was the reopening of an old wound he had spent decades learning to live around,” Seward wrote, according to the account.
The author suggested that the circumstances carried a sense of déjà vu for William because of the devastating experience he had already endured within his family.
Seward also recalled her experience of interviewing Diana and used her understanding of the former Princess of Wales to explore how Kate has adapted to a role that places enormous public attention on her family.
According to the royal author, William may have experienced a renewed sense of being caught inside circumstances he had never chosen, while simultaneously trying to protect the woman closest to him.
Seward wrote that William did “everything in his power to shield” Kate from the outside world during an extraordinarily difficult period for the Wales family.
William eventually returned to public duties while Kate underwent treatment, and he continued to balance his responsibilities as heir to the throne with supporting his wife and their three children.
He also spoke publicly about the importance of his family during that period, previously describing Kate as “amazing” and emphasizing how important she was to their family.
The experience inevitably drew comparisons with Diana, but Kate’s situation has been distinct and should not be treated as a repeat of the circumstances surrounding William’s childhood loss.
The Wales family has continued to present a united front, with William, Kate and their children navigating the difficult period away from much of the intense attention surrounding the Princess’s diagnosis.
While Seward’s description of William’s private emotions is an interpretation rather than something that can be independently verified, it highlights why Kate’s illness may have carried an especially personal significance for him.
Kate has since continued her gradual return to public life, while the support of William, their children and their wider families has remained an important part of the family’s journey.
The account ultimately offers a poignant perspective on the Waleses’ relationship, while avoiding the suggestion that Kate’s illness should be viewed through the same lens as Diana’s tragic story.
