Prince William Discusses Family Challenges Amid Cancer Diagnoses

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Prince William opened up about the challenges of discussing serious family issues with his three children during an interview with Brazilian journalist Luciano Huck.

The Prince of Wales shared that he strives to be honest with his kids, particularly regarding their mother, the Princess of Wales, and grandfather, King Charles III, both of whom have faced cancer diagnoses in recent years. “We choose to communicate a lot more with our children… sometimes, you feel like you’re oversharing, but hiding stuff from them doesn’t work,” he said.

In February 2024, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III had been diagnosed with cancer, though details about the type and stage were not revealed. The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, disclosed her own cancer diagnosis publicly in March 2024 and announced her remission after chemotherapy in January.

William admitted that navigating tough questions from his children can be difficult. “It is always a balancing act,” he said. “How much do I say? What do I say? When do I say?” He emphasized that there is no manual for parenting, relying on instinct to guide him.

Another topic discussed was the couple’s decision to restrict their children’s phone usage, which has created tension at home. “We communicate why we don’t think it’s right,” he explained. “I think children can access too much stuff they don’t need to see online.” He believes that older mobile phones without internet access could be appropriate for kids.

The future king also provided insight into his active role in family life, balancing his royal duties with parenting. “Play dates, taxi driver, sports days… I mean, Catherine and I share it, but she probably does the bulk of it,” he stated.

William conducted the interview while in Brazil to celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Earthshot Prize, an initiative founded in 2020 to address global environmental challenges, including climate change. This year’s awards ceremony took place in Rio de Janeiro, leading up to the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference, known as COP30, in Belém.