Every statement Prince William has made about King Charles' health and cancer battle
The heir 'opened up' to an unlikely political figure...Buckingham Palace released a statement in February last year detailing King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer, and most royals have kept quiet about the topic, except for Prince William.
While the palace have not disclosed what type of cancer the monarch has, the king himself has been back performing royal duties for several months after undergoing treatment at home as an outpatient.
The royal underwent a routine procedure for an enlarged prostate early on in the year. However, weeks later, Charles announced he has a form of cancer.
First words after cancer diagnosis
Two days after Charles announced he had cancer, Prince William thanked the public for their support in a short statement after the king’s diagnosis.
While speaking at a fundraiser for the London Air Ambulance he said: “We really appreciate everyone’s kind messages, thank you.”
It wasn’t a big speech and he didn’t go into detail but acknowledged the outpouring of messages from people all over the world.
William also cracked a joke at the event, adding: “It’s fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather ‘medical’ focus. So I thought I’d come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all!”
He became the first royal to speak about the diagnosis after the palace released the news.
Why Prince William waited so long to issue a statement over King Charles’ cancer
In the wake of the announcement from Buckingham Palace in February 2024 that Charles had been diagnosed with cancer, royal experts explained his son Prince William wouldn’t make a public statement about the king’s health.
Royal commentator Robert Jobson revealed he thought the heir wouldn’t issue a response to the news at all.
He explained: “The most important thing is William continues to be in regular contact with the king.”
Richard Fitzwilliams also added at the time that Prince William would only release a statement on King Charles’ health if he found it was ‘necessary’.
‘Brutal’ year for the royal family
In November of that year, the Prince of Wales admitted the past year had been “brutal”, in relation to his father and wife’s cancer battles.
During a video interview for the Earthshot prize awards, Prince William was asked about his year and his statement hinted at Kate Middleton and King Charles’ health fights.
“Honestly, it’s been dreadful,” he admitted.
“It’s probably been the hardest year in my life. Trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.
“But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”
William’s wife Kate, the Princess of Wales, disclosed her own diagnosis weeks after the monarch.
Read more: What would actually happen if King Charles chose to resign and announced his abdication
King Charles ‘fighting very hard’
Ahead of becoming president, Donald Trump claimed to reveal a personal detail about King Charles’ cancer battle in a statement via Prince William.
Trump had visited the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral in December 2024, and spoke to the future king while at the event.
He claimed William told him his father is “fighting very hard”.
“I had a great talk with the prince,” Trump said.
“And I asked him about his wife and he said she’s doing well. And I asked him about his father and his father is fighting very hard, and he loves his father and he loves his wife, so it was sad. We had a great talk for half an hour, a little more than half an hour. We had a great, great talk.”
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