Prince William has offered a heartfelt update on Princess Kate’s battle with cancer, reflecting on a challenging period for the royal family.

In March 2024, Kate Middleton revealed she had been diagnosed with cancer, shocking the public. She underwent chemotherapy and completed her treatment in September 2024, announcing in January 2025 that she was in remission.

During a recent visit to Brazil, Prince William spoke to television host Luciano Huck about the ordeal, describing the past few years as “very tough” for the family. Alongside Kate’s illness, King Charles III has also been undergoing treatment more than a year after his own diagnosis.

William’s visit included presenting the Earthshot Prize and delivering a keynote at the COP30 climate summit, urging world leaders to take action to protect the planet.

Sharing the news with their children

The Prince revealed how he and Kate approached telling their three children — Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7 — about Kate’s diagnosis.

“Hiding stuff from them doesn’t work,” he said. “Every family goes through difficult times and faces challenges together. How you deal with those moments makes all the difference. We decided to tell our children everything, both the good news and the bad. We explain why certain things happen and why they might feel upset.”

He acknowledged that many questions may arise without clear answers, adding: “There’s no rulebook for being a parent, and we chose to talk about everything.”

Approach to technology for the children

William also discussed their approach to the children’s use of mobile phones. “It is really hard. Our children don’t have phones,” he said. He explained that George may receive one with limited access when he moves on to secondary school.

“With full access, children end up seeing things on the internet that they shouldn’t. But with restricted access, I think it’s good for messaging,” William added, highlighting the couple’s careful approach to raising their children while navigating public life and personal challenges.