‘Special permission’ King Charles granted Prince William after his cancer diagnosis
PRINCE William has had an emotional few weeks, after dad King Charles’ cancer diagnosis and wife Kate Middleton’s abdominal surgery.
The Prince of Wales has been balancing caring for his family with royal duties – and a royal expert has claimed Charles gave William a special privilege during this time.
Speaking to Hello!’s A Right Royal Podcast, royal editor Ingrid Seward claims William was given Charles’ blessing and permission to take a step back from public duties to look after his family.
She said: “Charles always put duty first because that’s what his mother did. And that’s what Diana decided she wouldn’t do.
“I think Charles has encouraged William to spend more time with the family and also said to William, ‘I don’t want you to take on any royal duties until you absolutely have to’ because you remember we criticised William the work-shy?
“And that was his father very much saying, ‘You don’t have to do this, be with your young family.
“‘Enjoy it while you can. You’ve got years and years and years of royal duties to do.’”
Ingrid claims that Charles doesn’t want Prince William to go through the “same thing” that he did.
She added: “He wants William to be able to enjoy his wife and family as much as he’s able to do so within the restrictions of what he’s doing.”
I think Charles has encouraged William to spend more time with the family and also said to William, ‘I don’t want you to take on any royal duties until you absolutely have to’ because you remember we criticised William the work-shy?
Ingrid Seward
In King Charles’ autobiography by Jonathan Dimbleby, the Queen and Prince Philip were described as “emotionally distant” as parents.
Prince William took a brief time away from duties to care for their three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, eight, and Prince Louis, five.
He has since returned to do a few royal engagements.
On Tuesday, the heir, 41, visited British Red Cross headquarters in Central London to speak with those providing humanitarian aid, and people who have been on the ground helping those in need in Gaza.
He also released a heartfelt statement and said we “must not succumb to despair” even “in the darkest hour” as he met with Gaza heroes.
The Prince of Wales’ appearance comes after he attended the Baftas without his wife on Sunday.
Why Charles bravely shared his cancer diagnosis
KING Charles has bravely broken with royal protocol by sharing his cancer diagnosis.
Senior royals have in past been tight-lipped about their health battles.
The last top royal diagnosed with cancer was Charles’s grandfather George VI.
Heavy smoker George had his left lung removed for “structural abnormalities” in September 1951, months before he died.
The “abnormalities” were actually a life-threatening carcinoma, but the public never learned about George’s cancer ordeal.
Buckingham Palace said Charles wanted to share his cancer diagnosis to boost “public understanding” for cancer patients worldwide.
Kate, 42, is still recovering from her abdominal surgery, which is set to see the royal take a step back from duties until Easter.
William told how the mum-of-three was gutted she couldn’t attend.
“She does love the Baftas,” he told Elaine Bedell, chief executive of the Southbank Centre.
It is the first major public appearance the princess has missed since being admitted to The London Clinic on January 16.