The Prince of Wales has described the past year as the “most difficult year” of his life.

Speaking to reporters at the end of his visit to South Africa, Prince William talked about how he coped after both his wife and father were diagnosed with cancer.

“It was a terrible year. Probably the hardest year of my life. So it’s been really hard trying to get through everything else and keep everything okay.” Royal Family.

Buckingham Palace It was revealed that the king had cancer We will start treatment in February. Announced just six weeks later The Princess of Wales was undergoing chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer.

The King later returned to public duties and Catherine completed her chemotherapy treatment.

Prince William said: “I am proud of my husband and my father for taking an interest in what they do.

“But from a personal family perspective, it was brutal.”

Royal writer Robert Hardman told the BBC’s Today program on Friday that the prince’s confession was part of a larger perception that the royal family was “recalibrating” its public image.

He also referred to recent documentaries featuring the Prince of Wales and the Queen and said the monarchy had had a “remarkable year”.

“It’s been a very bad year; he (William) is helping his wife, who has a very serious illness, while also being expected to replace his father, who is suffering from cancer,” Mr Hardman said. the recently released Charles III: The New King. New Court. Inside Story added.

“He was holding down the fort through it all.”

The Prince of Wales was in South Africa for the Earthshot awards ceremony.

Wednesday night, Five projects each won £1 million in prize money for their environmental innovations.

He was also asked whether he enjoyed the role of Prince of Wales and the freedom and responsibility it brought.

“It’s a difficult situation. Do I enjoy more responsibility? “No,” he said.

“Do I like the freedom of being able to build something like Earthshot, then yes.

“And that’s the future for me. It is very important for my role and my platform that I am doing something good.

“I’m helping people’s lives and doing something truly meaningful.”

The prince has been growing a beard since the summer, which has divided opinion even among those closest to him, including his daughter Princess Charlotte.

“Well, Charlotte didn’t like it the first time. My tears flowed so I had to shave it off. Then I grew it again. I thought wait a second and convinced him everything would be okay.

Judging by his general feelings about combining his role as a future king, husband, and father, there was a sense that he had found the right mix of official duty and private time.

“I enjoy my job, I like to adjust my pace and spend time with my family.”

The Prince’s final day in Cape Town saw him learn more about the work of Abalobi, a finalist for the 2023 Earthshot award, which aims to protect small-scale fishing communities.

He was greeted with chants of “We love you, William” and chatted with local fishermen and women who attended the programme.

But then a handful of vocal protesters held signs or shouted about a variety of issues, including the conflict in Israel, indigenous rights, the culling of the region’s baboons and the lack of representation of local fishermen.