Prince William has opened up about King Charles’ ongoing battle with cancer, offering a rare glimpse into how the royal family has coped one year on from the King’s diagnosis.

While King Charles and Kate Middleton have both spoken publicly about their health challenges, the Prince of Wales has remained largely private — until now. In a candid conversation with actor Eugene Levy for Apple TV+’s The Reluctant Traveler, William reflected on what the past year has been like for his family.

“It’s been dreadful,” he admitted. “From a personal family point of view, it’s been brutal.”

Balancing his royal duties with being a devoted husband and father, William, 43, said the experience had tested them all. “Life is sent to test us, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are,” he shared, adding that both Kate and his father have shown remarkable strength throughout their battles.

King Charles, who has continued to attend public engagements in recent months, recently offered a brief update on his health, saying he was “not doing too bad” and noting that “half the problem is detecting it in time.” He added optimistically: “The great thing, I think, is they’re getting better and better.”

The King’s specific type of cancer has never been publicly disclosed — a decision said to have been made deliberately. A royal source told The Times in 2024 that the choice “was a conscious one, to be able to reach out to the widest number of people who are experiencing the disease, rather than narrow the focus onto a particular form of cancer.”

While Kate is now in remission and gradually returning to royal duties, the family is still navigating the long road of recovery. For William, the past year has been a reminder of both the fragility and resilience that define his family’s story.