Prince William, Prince of Wales is seen at the 2024 United for Wildlife Global Showcase on Nov. 5, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa.Photo:Chris Jackson/Getty
Chris Jackson/Getty
After a rollercoaster year,Prince Williamhas emerged as the royal family’s “new rock,” according to a royal biographer.In a piece forThe Independentpublished Dec. 28, Dr. Tessa Dunlop said that the Prince of Wales, 42, is “a reincarnation of his late grandmother [Queen Elizabeth],” also calling the future king a “steadfast anchor who changed it up with designer stubble,” referring to William’smuch discussed facial hairthroughout the latter half of 2024.“The nation fell in love with[Princess] Diana’s firstborn all over again,” Dunlop wrote, adding that “Naysayers who doubted William’s mettle have been forced to rethink.”President and Founder of the Earthshot Prize, Prince William, Prince of Wales on stage during the 2024 Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony on Nov. 6, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa.Chris Jackson/GettyThe dawn of 2025 was no doubt a welcome sight for William, who in November called 2024 “brutal”: “It’s been dreadful,” he said while in Cape Town, South Africa for the fourth iteration of his Earthshot Prize Awards. “It’s probably been the hardest year in my life.”2024 saw both his wife,Kate Middleton, and his father,King Charles, diagnosed with cancer; his auntSarah Ferguson, too, announced a second cancer diagnosis, andThomas Kingston, the husband ofLady Gabriella, died suddenly as a result of a“traumatic wound to the head”at age 45 on Feb. 25.Additionally, his unclePrince Andrew’s association with an alleged Chinese spy brought further embarrassment to the monarchy five years after the Duke of York’s disastrous BBCNewsnightinterview did the same.Catherine, Princess of Wales, (C-L) and Prince William, Prince of Wales, (C-R) during a ceremonial welcome for the Amir of the State of Qatar at Horse Guards parade during day one of The Amir of the State of Qatar’s visit to the United Kingdom on Dec. 3, 2024 in London, England.Leon Neal/GettyBut Dunlop, author ofElizabeth and Philip: A Story of Young Love, Marriage and Monarchyabout Queen Elizabeth andPrince Philip, said all was not lost for the royal family last year: “Without doubt, the rebirth of the Waleses as the country’s number one couple has moved our monarchy into a new space,” she wrote. “These days they appear to be a double act, even when apart.”Of Kate’s cancer diagnosis — which she announced publicly on March 22 via a video message, following up with another video message on Sept. 9 thatshe had completed chemotherapy— Dunlop added that because of her husband’s support, “Kate has not walked alone.”In the same November interview from Cape Town, William opened up about his royal role and, after being asked about whether it was more restrictive having greater responsibility and importance in the monarchy now that he was Prince of Wales (a title he took on in September 2022), he responded, “It’s a tricky one.”Prince William, Prince Of Wales visits Simon Community on Nov. 14, 2024 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.Jason Cairnduff - Pool/Getty“Do I like more responsibility? No. Do I like the freedom that I can build something like Earthshot? Then yes,” he said. “And that’s the future for me.”William added, “It’s very important, with my role and my platform, that I’m doing something for good. That I’m helping people’s lives and I’m doing something that is genuinely meaningful. So, the Earthshot is a culmination, if you like, of all that put together.”In her piece, Dunlop said of William’s presence in the institution that “William insists he wants to provide compassionate leadership amid a dangerous new dawn of showy nationalism. To help him perform that onerous task, it is vital the King leans in.”Of King Charles, she added, “He may never be the star turn his late mother was, or that his son is fast becoming, but Charles could make a name for himself as a monarch who oversees much-needed root-and-branch reform.”King Charles III smiles during The King’s Foundation’s annual ‘Crafts at Christmas’ at Highgrove Gardens on Dec. 13, 2024 in Tetbury, England.Chris Jackson - Pool/GettyCan’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage?Sign up for our free Royals newsletterto get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!While Kate’s cancer treatment has ended, the King’s will continue into 2025, with palace sources confirming on Dec. 20 that the treatment is moving “in a very positive direction.”As the one year anniversary of Charles’ own announcement about his cancer approaches on Feb. 5, aides have signaled that the King, 76, will continue treatment as a “managed condition.”
After a rollercoaster year,Prince Williamhas emerged as the royal family’s “new rock,” according to a royal biographer.
In a piece forThe Independentpublished Dec. 28, Dr. Tessa Dunlop said that the Prince of Wales, 42, is “a reincarnation of his late grandmother [Queen Elizabeth],” also calling the future king a “steadfast anchor who changed it up with designer stubble,” referring to William’smuch discussed facial hairthroughout the latter half of 2024.
“The nation fell in love with[Princess] Diana’s firstborn all over again,” Dunlop wrote, adding that “Naysayers who doubted William’s mettle have been forced to rethink.”
President and Founder of the Earthshot Prize, Prince William, Prince of Wales on stage during the 2024 Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony on Nov. 6, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa.Chris Jackson/Getty
The dawn of 2025 was no doubt a welcome sight for William, who in November called 2024 “brutal”: “It’s been dreadful,” he said while in Cape Town, South Africa for the fourth iteration of his Earthshot Prize Awards. “It’s probably been the hardest year in my life.”
2024 saw both his wife,Kate Middleton, and his father,King Charles, diagnosed with cancer; his auntSarah Ferguson, too, announced a second cancer diagnosis, andThomas Kingston, the husband ofLady Gabriella, died suddenly as a result of a“traumatic wound to the head”at age 45 on Feb. 25.
Additionally, his unclePrince Andrew’s association with an alleged Chinese spy brought further embarrassment to the monarchy five years after the Duke of York’s disastrous BBCNewsnightinterview did the same.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, (C-L) and Prince William, Prince of Wales, (C-R) during a ceremonial welcome for the Amir of the State of Qatar at Horse Guards parade during day one of The Amir of the State of Qatar’s visit to the United Kingdom on Dec. 3, 2024 in London, England.Leon Neal/Getty
Leon Neal/Getty
But Dunlop, author ofElizabeth and Philip: A Story of Young Love, Marriage and Monarchyabout Queen Elizabeth andPrince Philip, said all was not lost for the royal family last year: “Without doubt, the rebirth of the Waleses as the country’s number one couple has moved our monarchy into a new space,” she wrote. “These days they appear to be a double act, even when apart.”
Of Kate’s cancer diagnosis — which she announced publicly on March 22 via a video message, following up with another video message on Sept. 9 thatshe had completed chemotherapy— Dunlop added that because of her husband’s support, “Kate has not walked alone.”
In the same November interview from Cape Town, William opened up about his royal role and, after being asked about whether it was more restrictive having greater responsibility and importance in the monarchy now that he was Prince of Wales (a title he took on in September 2022), he responded, “It’s a tricky one.”
Prince William, Prince Of Wales visits Simon Community on Nov. 14, 2024 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.Jason Cairnduff - Pool/Getty
Jason Cairnduff - Pool/Getty
“Do I like more responsibility? No. Do I like the freedom that I can build something like Earthshot? Then yes,” he said. “And that’s the future for me.”
William added, “It’s very important, with my role and my platform, that I’m doing something for good. That I’m helping people’s lives and I’m doing something that is genuinely meaningful. So, the Earthshot is a culmination, if you like, of all that put together.”
In her piece, Dunlop said of William’s presence in the institution that “William insists he wants to provide compassionate leadership amid a dangerous new dawn of showy nationalism. To help him perform that onerous task, it is vital the King leans in.”
Of King Charles, she added, “He may never be the star turn his late mother was, or that his son is fast becoming, but Charles could make a name for himself as a monarch who oversees much-needed root-and-branch reform.”
King Charles III smiles during The King’s Foundation’s annual ‘Crafts at Christmas’ at Highgrove Gardens on Dec. 13, 2024 in Tetbury, England.Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty
Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty
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While Kate’s cancer treatment has ended, the King’s will continue into 2025, with palace sources confirming on Dec. 20 that the treatment is moving “in a very positive direction.”
As the one year anniversary of Charles’ own announcement about his cancer approaches on Feb. 5, aides have signaled that the King, 76, will continue treatment as a “managed condition.”
source: people.com
