After a difficult year that included his father Prince Charles and his wife Princess Kate battling undisclosed cancer, Prince William is hoping that Princess Catherine will join him on the royal trip next year.

“I hope that Princess Catherine will be a little more active next year.

“I'm trying to do it differently, and I'm trying to do it for my generation. I'm making the royal 'R' smaller. It's about impact, philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people.”

The royal comments came after the future King of England and father of three spoke candidly about what the past year has been like for him.

According to the Daily Mail, Prince William said, “It's been the worst, to be honest. It was probably the hardest year of my life.”

The Prince of Wales continued, referring to his father and wife both enduring chemotherapy, “It's been really difficult trying to get through everything else and get everything back on track.”

In September, Princess Kate announced that she had completed her preventative chemotherapy, but did not say when she would return to her royal duties full time.

“How relieved I am to finally finish chemotherapy now that summer is coming to an end,” Princess Kate announced in an emotional video shared on royal social media. The last nine months have been incredibly difficult for our family. As you know, life can change in an instant and we have had to find our way through rough waters and unknown paths.”

“My focus now is to do what I can to remain cancer-free. My chemotherapy is over, but the road to healing and full recovery is a long one, and I have to take it one day at a time. With that said, I look forward to getting back to work and making a few more public appearances in the coming months when I can.”

As a sign that Princess Kate is changing her mind about the royal outing, she made consecutive public appearances on November 9 and November 10, attending Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in London and the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall. He attended both.

During both outings, she wore Collingwood pearl earrings that once belonged to the royal family in honor of her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, People reported on November 9.

On November 10, Middleton wore an all-black ensemble by Catherine Walker & Company, one of her former mother-in-law's favorite designers, People also reported.