When Kate Middleton was diagnosed with cancer last year, she didn’t keep it a secret from her kids Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, who she shares with husband Prince William. The Prince of Wales recently revealed how they handled the cancer conversation with their little ones, and it’s full of honest vulnerability.
“Every family goes through difficult times and faces challenges together,” Prince William said in a conversation with a Brazilian television show, per The Independent. “How you deal with those moments makes all the difference.”
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And he shared how he and Middleton approached the conversation about her cancer diagnosis. “We decided to tell our children everything, both the good news and the bad,” he continued. “We explain to them why certain things happen and why they might feel upset.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 14: Prince Louis of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour 2025 on June 14, 2025 in London, England. Trooping The Colour is a ceremonial parade celebrating the official birthday of the British Monarch. The event features over 1,400 soldiers and officers, accompanied by 200 horses. More than 400 musicians from ten different bands and Corps of Drums march and while performing. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 14: Prince Louis of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales on the balcony at Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Colour 2025 on June 14, 2025 in London, England. Trooping The Colour is a ceremonial parade celebrating the official birthday of the British Monarch. The event features over 1,400 soldiers and officers, accompanied by 200 horses. More than 400 musicians from ten different bands and Corps of Drums march and while performing. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)
Karwai Tang/WireImage
Some parents might have a tendency to keep big serious things like this close to their heart, but Prince William and Kate Middleton did the opposite approach. And, surprisingly, they also openly admitted that they didn’t know everything.
Prince William added, “Many questions might come up without answers – I think all parents go through that. There’s no rulebook for being a parent, and we chose to talk about everything.” Love that!
Middleton announced she was diagnosed with cancer in March 2024, revealing that she had an abdominal surgery in January, and tests afterward found cancer.
“This, of course, came as a huge shock,” the Princess of Wales said in a video at the time. “And William and I have been doing everything to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery to start my treatment. But most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a way that’s appropriate for them and to reassure them that I’m going to be OK.”
She shared how she talked to her kids about the cancer, as well. Middleton told them: “I am well and getting stronger ever day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body, and spirits.”
Middleton finished chemotherapy in Sept. 2024. At the time, she posted an intimate home video of her and her kids, writing in part, “As the summer comes to an end, I cannot tell you what a relief it is to have finally completed my chemotherapy treatment. The last nine months have been incredibly tough for us as a family. Life as you know it can change in an instant and we have had to find a way to navigate the stormy waters and road unknown.”
Their policy of open honesty with their kids is something that experts recommend. Paula Schnieder, breast cancer survivor and honorary vice chair of Susan G. Komen, previously told SheKnows about how she handled the cancer conversation with her kids.
“When it came time to have the conversation, I wanted it to be as normal as possible,” Schnieder recalled. “So we told them about my diagnosis, shared that mom’s going to have some treatment, but that everything was going to be OK — even when we ourselves weren’t sure if everything was going to be OK.”
She added, “I do feel confident that honesty is helpful, and if you can be honest with your kids upfront, they will know the facts and their minds won’t worry or wander when they hear different things from other people or friends their age.”
These are important lessons to take with us in our parenting journeys, whether you are preparing to talk to your kids about a serious health issue or something else challenging. Honesty and open communication is always the best policy!
Before you go, check out the most heartwarming and relatable photos of the royals being normal parents.
