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16 Mar 2025, Sun

Prince William takes on 80% of royal duties as King Charles III battles advanced cancer

rei Charles


The British monarchy is undergoing a dramatic shift in 2025, driven by the worsening health of King Charles III, who was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024. At 76, the monarch, who ascended the throne in September 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, faces a condition showing no signs of improvement, sharply curtailing his public engagements and transferring the bulk of royal responsibilities to Prince William, aged 42. With a reign that may prove shorter than anticipated, the Crown is hastening preparations for succession, placing William and Kate Middleton, also 42, at the forefront of a historic transition. Amid this backdrop, the couple has assumed roughly 80% of royal duties this year, including international trips and social commitments, while striving to modernize the institution for 21st-century challenges. Their approval rating, reaching 75% among Britons, underscores their role as pillars of stability in a time of uncertainty.

Charles III, who had envisioned an active reign after decades as Prince of Wales, saw his plans disrupted by illness. The cancer, discovered after a procedure for a benign prostate enlargement, has slashed his public appearances from over 200 engagements in 2024 to fewer than 50 in 2025. Meanwhile, William has stepped up, attending events like the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in December 2024 and overseeing royal estates such as the Duchy of Cornwall. Kate, despite her own cancer diagnosis in January 2024, plans to resume duties with 20 engagements this year, focusing on early childhood education and mental health. This accelerated transition reflects the need to preserve the monarchy’s relevance, contributing £1.8 billion annually to the UK economy.

At the heart of this change, William and Kate are undergoing rigorous training in diplomacy, governance, and global crisis management. With Charles’s health declining and the Commonwealth facing republican debates in nations like Jamaica and Australia, the couple aims to reinforce ties with the 56-nation bloc, home to 2.5 billion people. Their 75% approval rating, compared to Charles’s 50%, highlights the public trust in their ability to guide the monarchy into a new era amid economic, social, and political challenges.

Health crisis reshapes the monarchy

Charles III scales back commitments in 2025

The deteriorating health of Charles III has redefined the royal family’s dynamics throughout 2025. Diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, the king has undergone intensive treatments that have limited his capacity to maintain a full schedule. Previously averaging over 200 annual events, his engagements dropped to under 50 this year, restricting him to duties like private meetings with the prime minister and signing official documents. The lack of specifics about the cancer’s type or stage has fueled speculation, but the absence of recovery signs points to a severe condition, prompting Buckingham Palace to prioritize succession planning. In this scenario, William has taken on 80% of royal duties, leading 10 international trips and over 150 engagements in 2024, a marked increase from prior years.

Charles’s reduced role has also affected his presence in the Commonwealth. In 2023, he completed 25 international trips, a figure that plummeted to fewer than 10 in 2024, reflecting his physical limitations. Meanwhile, the Palace has intensified efforts to prepare William for the throne earlier than expected. The prince, who raised £20 million for mental health initiatives via the Duchy of Cornwall in 2024, blends traditional duties with modern causes like sustainability and social welfare. The monarchy, generating £500 million annually from tourism, relies on this transition to maintain its economic and cultural stability.

Kate Middleton resumes duties with resilience

Despite her cancer diagnosis in January 2024, Kate Middleton remains a vital figure in the Crown’s transition. Following abdominal surgery that uncovered the illness, she scaled back from 120 engagements in 2023 to 40 in 2024, prioritizing recovery. For 2025, she plans 20 events, emphasizing early childhood and mental health, initiatives that supported 2 million children last year. Her gradual return to public life, even during treatment, underscores her commitment to the monarchy and bolsters her image as a resilient leader. The couple’s approval rating rose 10% since 2023 to 75%, outpacing Charles’s 50%, positioning them as capable stewards amid current challenges.

Preparations for a new era

William ramps up diplomatic training

Preparing for the throne demands more than ceremonial duties from William. In 2025, he held over 20 meetings with foreign policy experts and led 10 international trips, honing his diplomatic skills. His attendance at the Notre-Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris in December 2024 showcased his growing global presence, while managing the Duchy of Cornwall yielded £20 million for social causes in 2024, up 15% from the previous year. These efforts reflect his dedication to modernizing the monarchy, aligning it with 21st-century priorities like sustainability and mental health. His Earthshot Prize initiative reached 5 million beneficiaries in 2024, cementing his status as an engaged leader.

Kate supports this mission with her phased return, scheduling 20 engagements for 2025. Her early childhood projects raised £50 million in donations last year, a 25% increase from 2023, aiding millions of children. Together, they counter criticism of the monarchy’s £100 million annual cost with tangible results, despite 40% of Britons questioning its worth in 2024 surveys. Their popularity, 20% above the royal average, provides a strong foundation to address these challenges and sustain public support.

Key milestones in the royal transition

Recent events illustrate the monarchy’s swift adaptation to Charles III’s health crisis:

  • February 2024: Charles III diagnosed with cancer post-prostate procedure.
  • January 2024: Kate Middleton begins cancer treatment after abdominal surgery.
  • December 2024: William represents the king at Notre-Dame’s reopening in Paris.
  • Early 2025: Charles’s condition worsens, hastening succession plans.

These milestones reveal how the royal family restructured priorities in under two years, with William leading and Kate selectively resuming duties. Charles’s international trips fell from 25 in 2023 to under 10 in 2024, highlighting the urgency of this shift.

Future of the Crown at stake

Commonwealth faces rising pressures

The Commonwealth, spanning 56 nations and 2.5 billion people, confronts challenges testing William and Kate’s leadership. Since Barbados became a republic in 2021, six other countries, including Jamaica and Australia, plan republican debates in 2025. This trend reflects growing anti-monarchical sentiment, requiring the Crown to demonstrate its global value. William’s 10 international trips this year and Kate’s social initiatives aim to bolster these ties, leveraging their 75% approval rating, which exceeds the royal average by 20%. The monarchy, contributing £1.8 billion to the UK economy, hinges on this connection to maintain its influence.

Domestically, the Crown’s £100 million annual cost draws scrutiny, with 40% of Britons questioning its value. Yet, the £500 million from tourism in 2024 and £50 million raised by William and Kate for charity last year offset these concerns. Their focus on sustainability and childhood aligns the monarchy with contemporary issues, vital for its survival amid political and economic uncertainty.

Next generation in training

William and Kate are also grooming their children for the monarchy’s future. Prince George, 11, joined five public events in 2024, such as charity visits, while Charlotte, 9, and Louis, 6, begin gradual exposure to royal duties. This mirrors William’s preparation, which started at age 10, ensuring the next generation is equipped for future challenges. With Charles’s health faltering and succession looming, this strategy secures the lineage’s stability at a pivotal moment.



The British monarchy is undergoing a dramatic shift in 2025, driven by the worsening health of King Charles III, who was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024. At 76, the monarch, who ascended the throne in September 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II, faces a condition showing no signs of improvement, sharply curtailing his public engagements and transferring the bulk of royal responsibilities to Prince William, aged 42. With a reign that may prove shorter than anticipated, the Crown is hastening preparations for succession, placing William and Kate Middleton, also 42, at the forefront of a historic transition. Amid this backdrop, the couple has assumed roughly 80% of royal duties this year, including international trips and social commitments, while striving to modernize the institution for 21st-century challenges. Their approval rating, reaching 75% among Britons, underscores their role as pillars of stability in a time of uncertainty.

Charles III, who had envisioned an active reign after decades as Prince of Wales, saw his plans disrupted by illness. The cancer, discovered after a procedure for a benign prostate enlargement, has slashed his public appearances from over 200 engagements in 2024 to fewer than 50 in 2025. Meanwhile, William has stepped up, attending events like the reopening of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris in December 2024 and overseeing royal estates such as the Duchy of Cornwall. Kate, despite her own cancer diagnosis in January 2024, plans to resume duties with 20 engagements this year, focusing on early childhood education and mental health. This accelerated transition reflects the need to preserve the monarchy’s relevance, contributing £1.8 billion annually to the UK economy.

At the heart of this change, William and Kate are undergoing rigorous training in diplomacy, governance, and global crisis management. With Charles’s health declining and the Commonwealth facing republican debates in nations like Jamaica and Australia, the couple aims to reinforce ties with the 56-nation bloc, home to 2.5 billion people. Their 75% approval rating, compared to Charles’s 50%, highlights the public trust in their ability to guide the monarchy into a new era amid economic, social, and political challenges.

Health crisis reshapes the monarchy

Charles III scales back commitments in 2025

The deteriorating health of Charles III has redefined the royal family’s dynamics throughout 2025. Diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, the king has undergone intensive treatments that have limited his capacity to maintain a full schedule. Previously averaging over 200 annual events, his engagements dropped to under 50 this year, restricting him to duties like private meetings with the prime minister and signing official documents. The lack of specifics about the cancer’s type or stage has fueled speculation, but the absence of recovery signs points to a severe condition, prompting Buckingham Palace to prioritize succession planning. In this scenario, William has taken on 80% of royal duties, leading 10 international trips and over 150 engagements in 2024, a marked increase from prior years.

Charles’s reduced role has also affected his presence in the Commonwealth. In 2023, he completed 25 international trips, a figure that plummeted to fewer than 10 in 2024, reflecting his physical limitations. Meanwhile, the Palace has intensified efforts to prepare William for the throne earlier than expected. The prince, who raised £20 million for mental health initiatives via the Duchy of Cornwall in 2024, blends traditional duties with modern causes like sustainability and social welfare. The monarchy, generating £500 million annually from tourism, relies on this transition to maintain its economic and cultural stability.

Kate Middleton resumes duties with resilience

Despite her cancer diagnosis in January 2024, Kate Middleton remains a vital figure in the Crown’s transition. Following abdominal surgery that uncovered the illness, she scaled back from 120 engagements in 2023 to 40 in 2024, prioritizing recovery. For 2025, she plans 20 events, emphasizing early childhood and mental health, initiatives that supported 2 million children last year. Her gradual return to public life, even during treatment, underscores her commitment to the monarchy and bolsters her image as a resilient leader. The couple’s approval rating rose 10% since 2023 to 75%, outpacing Charles’s 50%, positioning them as capable stewards amid current challenges.

Preparations for a new era

William ramps up diplomatic training

Preparing for the throne demands more than ceremonial duties from William. In 2025, he held over 20 meetings with foreign policy experts and led 10 international trips, honing his diplomatic skills. His attendance at the Notre-Dame Cathedral reopening in Paris in December 2024 showcased his growing global presence, while managing the Duchy of Cornwall yielded £20 million for social causes in 2024, up 15% from the previous year. These efforts reflect his dedication to modernizing the monarchy, aligning it with 21st-century priorities like sustainability and mental health. His Earthshot Prize initiative reached 5 million beneficiaries in 2024, cementing his status as an engaged leader.

Kate supports this mission with her phased return, scheduling 20 engagements for 2025. Her early childhood projects raised £50 million in donations last year, a 25% increase from 2023, aiding millions of children. Together, they counter criticism of the monarchy’s £100 million annual cost with tangible results, despite 40% of Britons questioning its worth in 2024 surveys. Their popularity, 20% above the royal average, provides a strong foundation to address these challenges and sustain public support.

Key milestones in the royal transition

Recent events illustrate the monarchy’s swift adaptation to Charles III’s health crisis:

  • February 2024: Charles III diagnosed with cancer post-prostate procedure.
  • January 2024: Kate Middleton begins cancer treatment after abdominal surgery.
  • December 2024: William represents the king at Notre-Dame’s reopening in Paris.
  • Early 2025: Charles’s condition worsens, hastening succession plans.

These milestones reveal how the royal family restructured priorities in under two years, with William leading and Kate selectively resuming duties. Charles’s international trips fell from 25 in 2023 to under 10 in 2024, highlighting the urgency of this shift.

Future of the Crown at stake

Commonwealth faces rising pressures

The Commonwealth, spanning 56 nations and 2.5 billion people, confronts challenges testing William and Kate’s leadership. Since Barbados became a republic in 2021, six other countries, including Jamaica and Australia, plan republican debates in 2025. This trend reflects growing anti-monarchical sentiment, requiring the Crown to demonstrate its global value. William’s 10 international trips this year and Kate’s social initiatives aim to bolster these ties, leveraging their 75% approval rating, which exceeds the royal average by 20%. The monarchy, contributing £1.8 billion to the UK economy, hinges on this connection to maintain its influence.

Domestically, the Crown’s £100 million annual cost draws scrutiny, with 40% of Britons questioning its value. Yet, the £500 million from tourism in 2024 and £50 million raised by William and Kate for charity last year offset these concerns. Their focus on sustainability and childhood aligns the monarchy with contemporary issues, vital for its survival amid political and economic uncertainty.

Next generation in training

William and Kate are also grooming their children for the monarchy’s future. Prince George, 11, joined five public events in 2024, such as charity visits, while Charlotte, 9, and Louis, 6, begin gradual exposure to royal duties. This mirrors William’s preparation, which started at age 10, ensuring the next generation is equipped for future challenges. With Charles’s health faltering and succession looming, this strategy secures the lineage’s stability at a pivotal moment.



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