‘But I’m so proud of my wife,’ he added. ‘I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.’ Prince William then remarked that Catherine, Princess of Wales, was in good health after the announcement that her chemotherapy had some to and end in September; King Charles is still receiving weekly treatment from doctors.
He also admitted there is a certain stress, or perhaps anxiety, that comes with the Prince of Wales role, which he has held since the death of the late Queen Elizabeth in September 2022. Speaking in Cape Town, Prince William offered a rare insight into his own thoughts on his royal duties. ‘It’s a tricky one,’ he remarked. ‘Do I like more responsibility? No. Do I like the freedom that I can build something like Earthshot? Then yes.’
The Prince spoke candidly about how important helping people’s lives with projects like Earthshot and Homewards will be to him in the future, as continues as heir and even steps up to become king. But, it’s clear that the commitment takes some getting used to: William admitted that, while he may appear to be taking the South African tour in his stride – dancing along to performances, meeting with Steve Irwin’s son at Table Mountain – he has been finding life quite challenging. While he may appear relaxed, he told reporters, he was feeling anything but.
Another answer to how Prince William has coped with this ‘brutal’ year lies in his choice of attire in Cape Town. Alongside all the ‘eco-hipster’ garb he has donned for the ‘Green Oscars’, with sustainable brands for his ties and shirts, the Prince has ensured that he keeps his family close to him – even if the rest of the Waleses are back home in Britain. On his wrist, William was seen sporting that most modern of royal accessories: a friendship bracelet. This particular band seemed particularly personal to the Prince, with individual beads spelling out the word ‘Papa’.
It was, William said, a gift from Princess Charlotte. The Prince told the press that he had made an oath to his only daughter that he would wear the piece. ‘Well, this is… a relic, if you like, from a Taylor Swift concert that my daughter decided that she wanted to create a bracelet for,’ Prince William explained to the BBC on Tuesday, referring to the Eras Tour concert that he attended with Princess Charlotte and Prince George in June. ‘She gave it to me when I came away. So I promised that I’d wear it and try not to lose while I was out here,’ he continued.