Kate Middleton's Cancer Diagnosis Reveals She Has One Thing Princess Diana Never Did
In March 2024, after speculation following her mysterious abdominal surgery, the heartbreaking truth about Catherine, Princess of Wales was revealed. Kate Middleton announced her cancer diagnosis and that she was going to undergo preventative treatment. Despite troubling times, the beloved royal seems to have something her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, did not — William, Prince of Wales, is supporting Kate in a way King Charles III didn't support Diana.
William has handled Kate's cancer diagnosis by focusing on their family. The prince is still doing some royal engagements and stepping up following his father Charles' own cancer diagnosis. However, William has shown he puts Kate first and prioritizes being a husband over being a royal. An insider who spoke to Express said William will not attend October 2024's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa because of Kate. "Attending the CHOGM is not something William can take on at this time due to Kate's health, and although [Princess] Anne and other working royals are doing a great job stepping in to plug the gaps at home, they are not viewed as high level enough to represent the sovereign as leader of the Commonwealth," the source explained.
Comparatively, Charles prioritized other things over Diana. For instance, in March 1981, shortly after news of their engagement went public, Charles jetted off to Australia and New Zealand for a five-week trip. Diana cried in the airport because he spoke on the phone with his previous girlfriend and future mistress, Camilla Parker Bowles, before leaving.
William seems closer to his kids than Charles was
William, Prince of Wales, continues to prove himself as a dedicated family man above all else — especially given Kate Middleton's ongoing health issues. A friend of the royal couple informed People, "He is a very reliable, strong person. She doesn't feel isolated in this because of William, who is right beside her."
William is there for their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, as well. Ailsa Anderson, who used to be the late Queen Elizabeth II's press secretary, spoke to People and said that during Kate's cancer treatment, "[William] is going to be the anchor for his children." He won't be working as much as he used to so he can balance family life and professional, royal life.
William's behavior as a father is markedly different from his own father, King Charles III. Although Charles was there when Princess Diana gave birth to William and Prince Harry, it was reported the future king was playing polo the day after Harry was born. Charles was on a trip to Italy when Harry had emergency hernia surgery in 1988, calling hourly to check in. When William's skull was fractured by a golf club in 1991, Charles went to the hospital with him and Diana but didn't stay for the surgery. He attended a few engagements, causing The Sun to publish an article with the headline "What Kind Of Dad Are You?"
William and Kate are more faithful than Charles and Diana
William, Prince of Wales, has been plagued with affair rumors. William has focused on his family and not commented on the speculation, but with her lawyers as spokespeople, William's alleged mistress Rose Hanbury said "the rumours are completely false" (via Business Insider). It's likely that William is faithful to Kate Middleton based on his behavior. Conversely, when then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana were married, it was reportedly an unhappy union.
Charles had a well-publicized affair with Camilla Parker Bowles (now Queen Camilla). It's believed that Diana had a few romantic entanglements as well. In a transparent interview with the BBC in 1995, which the Palace didn't know about beforehand, Diana cast blame on Camilla for how her and Charles' relationship fell apart: "Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded" (via PBS). Diana also admitted to her own affair with James Hewitt. She told interviewer Martin Bashir, "Yes, I adored him. Yes, I was in love with him. But I was very let down." The disappointment came from Hewitt publishing a book that included an account of their relationship.
Whereas Charles and Diana's union was rocky and they sought extramarital relationships, Kate and William seem to be a united front, both supporting each other through any difficulties they face.