Prince William recently took off for Scotland. He wanted a quiet weekend with his dad, King Charles III. It was a chance for some much-needed father-son time.
William, who is 43, reportedly flew to Balmoral Castle on Friday, September 26. His 76-year-old father joined him for this private escape. Sky News reported that the two planned to enjoy "quality time" together. This mini-break came after a super busy week of official duties for both royals. (It’s also worth noting that King Charles is Prince Harry’s father; Harry is currently living apart from the royal family).
Just days before their trip, King Charles was visiting the BAE Systems shipyard. That was in Barrow-in-Furness, England, on Monday, September 22. William and his wife, Princess Kate Middleton, had their own solemn duties. They went to Southport on Tuesday, September 23. There, they offered comfort to families still hurting from a deadly attack in 2024. The attack happened during a children’s dance class.
This past year, 2024, hit both William and his father especially hard. Early in the year, both Charles and Kate, also 43, shared some difficult news. They confirmed they were each battling different types of cancer. The exact types were not made public.
William opened up about this challenging period. "I would say that 2024 was the most difficult year I have had," he mentioned in a preview. This was for his upcoming show, ‘The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy’ on Apple TV+. He added a thoughtful insight: "You know, life is also there to test us, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are."
During that same show, William gave the 78-year-old Schitt’s Creek star a special tour. It was a "personalized" walk around Windsor Castle. His dog, Orla, even joined them. William also shared a glimpse into his family life with Levy.
"When you have three young children, sleep is an important part of my life," William confessed. He was talking about how he and Kate relax. He was, of course, referring to their three kids: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 6.
While the King continues his own cancer treatment journey, Princess Kate has some good news. She has been in remission since January. She previously shared her thanks for the care she received.
"I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Royal Marsden for taking such good care of me over the past year," the Princess of Wales said in a statement. She also offered deep thanks to those who supported her quietly. "My heartfelt thanks to everyone who has silently walked alongside William and me as we faced everything. We couldn’t have asked for more. The care and advice we have received during my time as a patient has been exceptional."
Kate continued, expressing relief and hope. "It’s a relief to now be in remission, and I remain focused on recovery." She acknowledged that adapting to a "new normal" takes time after a cancer diagnosis. "However, I look forward to the coming year. There is much to look forward to," she stated.
Kate stepped back from her royal duties during treatment. But she returned to work this summer. She has been very open about how her health journey affected her and her family.
"One presents with an air of bravery and stoicism during treatment," Kate observed during a hospital visit in Essex in July. "Once it finishes, you think: ‘Now I can continue, go back to normal,’ but in reality, the post-phase is really, really difficult." She highlighted the shift after active treatment. "You no longer necessarily have the clinical team watching over you, but you can’t function at home normally as you might have before. Having someone help and guide you in that stage after treatment, I believe, is of enormous value."