<p id=”par-1_52″>In 2024, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/prince-william/”>Prince William</a> faced one of the most challenging periods of his life. His close friend and former royal communications secretary, Jason Knauf, pulled back the curtain on the emotional toll the year took on the future king He described that time as “the lowest I’ve ever seen him.” </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-a-terrible-paradox-prince-william-s-devastating-year”>A ‘terrible paradox’: Prince William’s devastating year</h2>
<p id=”par-2_37″>Speaking with <em><a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7YHfkaVcGZ8″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>60 Minutes Australia</a></em>, Jason Knauf revealed how William was forced to navigate two major personal crises. His father, King Charles, and his wife, Kate Middleton, were both diagnosed with cancer within months of each other.</p>
<p id=”par-3_28″>“If anything had happened to Charles, William would have ascended to the throne immediately,” Knauf explained. “However, that would have come at the cost of losing his father.”</p>
<p id=”par-4_33″>Shortly after learning of his father’s illness, William was hit with another devastating blow; Kate’s cancer diagnosis. This news was a double whammy for the next king whose future was suddenly uncertain.</p>
<p id=”par-5_15″>“It was awful, absolutely awful. It was the lowest I’ve ever seen him,” Knauf concluded.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-prince-william-and-kate-middleton-s-relentless-focus-on-family-during-that-uncertain-time”>Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relentless focus on family during that uncertain time</h2>
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<iframe title=”Prince William’s closest aide breaks his silence | 60 Minutes Australia” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/7YHfkaVcGZ8?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-6_48″>Despite the personal <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/meghan-markle-saved-prince-harry-tense-public-outing-prince-william-kate-middleton.html/?swcfpc=1″>hardships Prince William and Kate Middleton endured</a>, Jason Knauf said the couple’s top priority remained their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. As the royal communications secretary, Knauf worked closely with the couple to help them balance <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/meghan-markle-uncomfortable-un-royal-behavior-prince-william-tension-prince-harry.html/?swcfpc=1″>royal duty</a> and family responsibilities. </p>
<p id=”par-7_27″>However, it was obvious Kate and William prioritized family. “They made it very clear when planning their schedules that they had to be parents first,” Knauf shared.</p>
<p id=”par-8_44″>This commitment was evident during the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/prince-william-kate-middleton-kiss.html/?swcfpc=1″>height of speculation</a> about Kate’s absence from public life in 2024. The couple refrained from addressing rumors about her health. They had not yet told their children about her diagnosis and wanted to protect them from unnecessary distress.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-raising-the-next-generation-of-royals”>Raising the next generation of royals</h2>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/prince-william-prince-george-prince-louis-kate-middleton-princes-charlotte.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Prince William, Prince Louis, Prince George, Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte in 2024″ class=”wp-image-3780620″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Prince William, Prince Louis, Prince George, Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte in 2024 | Samir Hussein/WireImage</figcaption></figure>
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<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
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<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/kate-middleton-prince-william-fourth-child-royal-insider.html/”>
Crafty Kate Middleton Keeps Prince William in Check Like a ‘Fourth Child,’ Says Royal Insider </a>
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<p id=”par-9_50″>One of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s biggest challenges has always been raising their children in a way that allows them to experience as normal a childhood as possible, despite their royal status. William, who grew up in the intense media spotlight, understands firsthand the pressures of royal life. </p>
<p id=”par-10_45″>It wasn’t until his time at St. Andrews University in Scotland that he was able to experience a sense of privacy. Before he enrolled in 2001, Buckingham Palace struck an agreement with the UK media to grant him privacy while he pursued his studies.</p>
<p id=”par-11_41″>As a result, he was able to blend in with other students, walk around town freely, and even form a long-lasting relationship with Kate Middleton without constant media scrutiny. William reportedly wants the same type of freedom for his three children.</p>
<p id=”par-12_42″>“The one thing William talked about most in those early years was how he and Kate would prepare their children for life in the public eye,” Knauf explained. “His and Harry’s childhood in front of the media was quite difficult at times.”</p>
<p id=”par-13_56″>As George, Charlotte, and Louis grow up, they will become some of the most modern royals in history, tasked with helping advance the monarchy into the future. However, William and Kate remain committed to ensuring their children have a balance of public duty and private life, setting the stage for a well-adjusted next generation of royals.</p>