Prince William at His Lowest After Kate's Cancer Diagnosis, Says Former Aide

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Prince William was at his "lowest" after the Princess of Wales was diagnosed with cancer, according to a former aide. Jason Knauf, who worked closely with the royal couple for seven years, shared that Prince William was left devastated upon learning of the Princess of Wales's cancer diagnosis and worked out how to tell his children. Knauf said: "It was awful, absolutely awful. It's the lowest I've ever seen him." The royal couple initially kept the cancer diagnosis private while they worked through how to inform their children, with Knauf explaining that "they didn't want to say yet that she had cancer because they hadn't told the children and they were still working through how to tell the children."

The situation was particularly challenging as William received news of both his wife's and father's cancer diagnoses within weeks of each other. "Within a couple of weeks, if you're Prince William, you find out that both your wife and your father have cancer. I couldn't believe it," Knauf revealed. During this period of privacy, intense speculation emerged online about the Princess's absence from public duties, with Knauf saying: "The problem was that all this crazy conspiracy theory stuff kicked off in the background online." The Princess has since shared positive news about being in remission and has begun returning to public engagements while continuing her recovery. Knauf served as a senior aide to the Prince and Princess of Wales from 2015 to 2021, helping launch significant initiatives including William's Earthshot environmental awards.

Knauf initially worked as joint head of communications for both the Sussexes and the Cambridges before becoming chief executive of the Royal Foundation. During his tenure, Knauf supported 36 foreign trips with William and Kate and helped establish their Heads Together mental health initiative. Upon leaving the foundation in 2021 to move abroad, Knauf said: "Working for the Prince and Princess of Wales was the honour of a lifetime." His insights were shared as part of a new 60 Minutes Australia documentary titled "Where There's A Will", which explores Prince William's future role as King. The documentary also touches on William's relationship with his brother Harry, with Knauf saying: "It's very difficult to have this stuff play out in the public eye, but he's chosen to keep his thoughts on it private, and I think all of us who know him really have to respect that we should do the same."

Prince William has also spoken publicly about the challenges he faced after both his wife and his father were diagnosed with cancer, describing the past year as the "hardest year" of his life. He said: "It's been dreadful. It's probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult." The King and the Princess of Wales were treated for cancer last year, with Kate now in remission and Charles having ongoing treatment. Knauf's comments offer a rare glimpse into the personal struggles of the royal family, and the ways in which they navigate difficult times while maintaining their public duties. The royal family's experiences with cancer have also highlighted the importance of supporting those affected by the disease, and the need for greater awareness and understanding of its impact on individuals and families.

In addition to his work with the royal family, Knauf has also been involved in other initiatives and projects, including the launch of the Earthshot Prize, which recognizes solutions, ideas, and technologies that "repair the planet". The prize is now an independent charity, and has received widespread support and recognition. Knauf's contributions to the royal family and his work on initiatives such as the Earthshot Prize have been recognized, and he was made a Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (RVO) in the 2023 New Year Honours List. The list of stakeholders involved in the royal family's initiatives and projects is extensive, and includes: * The royal family * The Royal Foundation * The Earthshot Prize * The Heads Together mental health initiative * The Duke and Duchess of Sussex * The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge * Buckingham Palace * The Royal Victorian Order * The New Year Honours List * The 60 Minutes Australia documentary * The public and media outlets.