Prince William has opened his heart about what he considers to be the most difficult year of his life. In a new installment of his Apple TV+ series, The Reluctant Traveler, William sat down with Eugene Levy and spoke candidly about how 2024 put his entire family to the test.
Between walks in the gardens of Windsor and relaxed chats with his cocker spaniel, Orla, William joked about his routine: “Sleep. When you have three small children, sleep is an important part of my life.” But behind the smile and humor lies a very tough year.
Both he and Kate have faced cancer up close. Kate received treatment and, fortunately, announced in September that she was free of the disease. Meanwhile, her father, King Charles, also continued his treatment throughout the year.
William didn’t hide the intensity of the experience. “2023-2024 was the hardest year I’ve ever had. Life is sent to test us, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are.”
Through public statements and interviews in South Africa, it became clear that the weight of family concerns, along with royal responsibilities, made this period brutal, yet also filled with learning and pride in the strength of his wife and father.
What strikes me as particularly human in these words is how royalty approaches the common experience of many families: fear, uncertainty, struggle, and ultimately, relief.