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The future King and Queen of Britain are no longer waiting in the wings.
According to a New York Post report, Prince William and Kate Middleton are accelerating their preparations for the throne, and might ascend “sooner than they would have expected”.
This shift comes amid a transformative period for the British monarchy as health concerns surrounding King Charles III and Kate’s recent battle with cancer have significantly impacted royal responsibilities and family dynamics.
Here’s a closer look at the evolving situation and what it means for the future of the UK’s monarchy.
‘Next in line for the biggest job of their lives’
The Prince and Princess of Wales who are next in line for the British throne faced a challenging year, particularly after Middleton, 42, underwent cancer treatment earlier this year.
In March, Middleton revealed through a video message after a prolonged public absence that she had been diagnosed with cancer during an abdominal surgery.
Kate described the cancer diagnosis as a “huge shock,” adding that the family chose to keep the news private initially to give their children—Prince George (10), Princess Charlotte (8), and Prince Louis (5)—time to “understand and process” the situation.
During her recovery, Kate stepped back from royal duties, while Prince William scaled down his public engagements to focus on supporting his wife and family.
In a video update shared in September, Kate spoke about her recovery, acknowledging that her “path to healing and full recovery is long.” This statement led to speculation about whether she would return to her royal responsibilities.
However, with the princess now cancer-free, the couple has gradually resumed their public duties. According to royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith, this also meant stepping up preparations for William’s eventual ascension to the throne.
“They are next in line for the biggest job of their lives, and of course, Kate’s health has taken priority, but it’s also allowed everyone to take a step back and figure out what’s important right now,” People quoted a royal family insider as saying.
King Charles’ declining health
The King—who announced he was diagnosed with cancer in February—has been keeping calm and carrying on, but royal author Sally Bedell Smith told the People that the monarch can’t do it all and has to significantly scale back his busy schedule.
“Although the King is carrying out his duties with typical determination, he has had to accept limitations during his cancer treatment. As a result, William has been taking on more responsibilities, and he and Kate have been preparing for their future roles sooner than they would have expected,” Bedell Smith shared.
The shift in responsibilities is becoming increasingly visible. The Prince of Wales earlier headed to Paris for Notre Dame’s reopening ceremony in Paris as the UK’s representative—instead of his father. Many saw William’s meeting with President-elect Donald Trump as a sign of the royals passing on the baton.
Behind the scenes, succession plans have reportedly been in place since King Charles’ coronation in May 2023. However, the urgency surrounding these plans increased earlier this year due to the King’s health. “It is something the institution is always mindful of,” a palace source said, adding, “It is an institutional preparedness.”
This evolving dynamic has reshaped the roles within the royal family, particularly for the Prince and Princess of Wales. According to the New York Post, Prince William’s relationship with his father has evolved significantly as he has assumed more prominent duties.
“Their circumstances will eventually change. Given what the future holds, it would be very sensible to build back slowly and prioritise family time,” a source close to the palace added.
With input from agencies
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