It was a "horrible" year for Prince William, as he recently admitted in an interview during his Earthshot Award trip to South Africa. The Prince of Wales has seen his father and wife both fight cancer in 2024, but despite his "difficult" circumstances, one royal expert says Queen Elizabeth would have been proud of Prince William's "ability to keep calm and carry on.""

"I don't envy his role at the moment — he has a lot on his plate," royal biographer Andrew Morton told Miller. "Catherine had a pretty tough time of it. Chemotherapy is not the kind of thing you want to do when you're 42.

Morton, who famously interviewed William's late mother, Princess Diana, via cassette tape in the 1990s, said the Princess of Wales "is handling it as well as being able when having a seriously ill wife and three children who need support and comfort."

Prince William stepped in for the king during several royal engagements this year, on top of his own royal duties, as well as Princess Kate and her children., Princess Charlotte (9 years old) and Prince Louis (6 years old). "It's very difficult for anyone dealing with long-term illness, especially in such a position," Morton added, noting that William had to take on the role of "Father, nurse and Prince of Wales."

Indeed, William told reporters last month that 2024 was "probably the hardest year of my life" and that "it's really hard to get everything else over and get everything on track"

while some events had to be put on the back burner., Like the Paris Olympics, where Prince William skipped to protect his wife's health, he could not only go on the aforementioned trip to South Africa, but also make an engagement near the house.

Diana: The author of her true story told Miller that Queen Elizabeth shares a close bond with her future heir and Prince William shares a similar sense that "the show must continue."

"The Queen has always said that you have to be seen to be believed, but that's as true today as it was 50 years ago," Morton said, "William has done as many official engagements as he can. But it requires a lot of maturity, common sense and empathy.

These are the qualities the author said were likely to have seen by Queen Elizabeth at the Prince of Wales from an early age when William was visiting her on weekends while studying at nearby Eton College.

"They used to chat about his future obligations and she prepared him in a very careful manner," Morton said. "The Queen was great in terms of character, whether she was a horse or a person. She saw in William that he was someone who was ready to sacrifice his own privacy and life elements to become an active member of the Royal Family

But the Royal biographer said Queen Elizabeth knew the burden Prince William would eventually undertake as Prince of Wales (and later King). He said he was careful to make it easier for him to live in the royal family.

Morton said the Queen was "very mindful of the fact that these young couples do not have to take advantage of themselves in fulfilling their unending royal duties." They can spend a little time getting to know each other and enjoying a normal life — and for the first few years William and Kate managed it.

Speaking of these duties, the Prince of Wales (along with Princess Kate) will take the central stage with the King and Queen when he helps welcome Amir and his wife in Qatar to London on Tuesday 12/12. 3.