After waiting 70 years to ascend to the throne, King Charles III was always expected to have a short reign.
But after the confirmation of his treatment for an unspecified form of cancer, the timeline got much accelerated.
Because of that, Prince William and Kate Middleton have reportedly begun preparations for the roles of their lives: becoming king and queen.
It was a very hard year for the two Royals after Middleton was also diagnosed with cancer.
She spent much of the year away from the public view undergoing treatment, and the heir, William reduced his workload and spent more time with the family.
After the Princess completed her treatment, the couple made a gradual return to public-facing duties.
New York Post reported:
“Now, the pair have begun gearing up for William’s ascension, according to royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith.
‘Although the King is carrying out his duties with typical determination, he has had to accept limitations during his cancer treatment’, Bedell Smith told People.
‘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’.”
The King was also forced to slow down his activities after his cancer diagnosis.
William then got to represent ‘the Firm’ at various events, including the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
“’There’s a sense of calm before the storm’, Bedell Smith said. ‘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’.”
Royal courtiers began drawing up the succession plans right after the king’s coronation in May 2023, but the plans have been reportedly accelerated following Charles’ health woes.
“’It is something the institution is always mindful of’, a source told the outlet of the palace’s succession plans. ‘It is an institutional preparedness. Their circumstances will eventually change. Given what the future holds, it would be very sensible to build back slowly and prioritize family time’.”
Since last month, palace sources have been claiming that the dynamics between William and the King have ‘shifted’ into a ‘power struggle’.
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