Prince William has been under "tremendous pressure" royal biographer Richard Fitzwilliams has claimed after the royal issued a candid statement regarding his wife, Princess Catherine.
His analysis comes after William spoke frankly to journalists in South Africa about the challenges of maintaining his royal duties while supporting his family through their health crises.
In his most candid interview to date, Prince William admitted: "It's been dreadful. It's probably been the hardest year in my life."
Speaking during his four-day trip to Cape Town for the Earthshot Prize, the Prince of Wales opened up about the challenges of managing his duties whilst dealing with family health concerns.
Richard Fitzwilliams has said that the future king has been under pressure
GB News
"Trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult," he revealed to travelling UK media.
William expressed pride in how his family members have handled their diagnoses, stating: "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."
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The Prince dismissed suggestions that he appeared more relaxed, saying: "I couldn't be less relaxed this year."
Speaking to GB News, Royal biographer Richard Fitzwilliams said: "There is little doubt that if you consider the pressures he's been under. I mean, the word brutal certainly sums it up.
"The fact it's been so hard because to have his father diagnosed with cancer and then subsequently his wife with Catherine having very, very movingly made these struggles as public as she possibly can.
"If you consider the pressures, the eye, literally the eye of the storm, the world's most high profile royal family, and with all the speculation to some of it very undesirable earlier in the year.
Prince William is in the "eye of the storm"
Getty"On top of all this, he's kept as many royal commitments and also done some remarkable work for charity.
"So this is it's pretty uniquely candid for him to talk like this. But obviously, the situation has been quite extraordinary and very difficult."
Kate spent 13 days in hospital following abdominal surgery before revealing in March she had started chemotherapy.
The Princess has since completed her treatment and announced in September she was "looking forward to being back at work".
Prince William has been supporting his wife Kate this year
GettyThe King's cancer, discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate, was announced on February 6.
Charles continues to receive weekly treatment but has gradually resumed public duties.
Despite his ongoing treatment, the King recently completed a trip to Australia and Samoa with Queen Camilla, which has been described as the "perfect tonic" for the 75-year-old.
The monarch is expected to return to fuller duties and greater overseas travel in 2025.
