Prince William Says Kate Middleton ‘Will Be Doing More Next Year’

Prince William and Princess Kate. Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince William offered a promising update on Princess Kate Middleton and her possible return to full-time royal work next year.

“I think, hopefully, Catherine will be doing a bit more next year,” William, 42, told U.K.’s The Times in a profile published on Sunday, November 10. “So, we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up.”

As for events including all three kids as well? Those possible outings are still up in the air.

“Family-wise, you have to wait a little bit longer because obviously they’re at school and I think that takes priority [over] everything else,” William stated.

The Prince of Wales sat down for a rare, candid interview at the end of his recent, high-profile visit to Cape Town, South Africa for this year’s Earthshot Prize ceremony, which was held on Wednesday, November 6.

William admitted to The Times that 2024 has been the most “dreadful” year of his life, referring specifically to the respective and unspecified cancer diagnoses of his father, King Charles III, and wife, Kate.

“It’s probably been the hardest year in my life,” he said. “So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.”

William noted that he is “proud” of his wife and father for overcoming their health challenges this year. “It’s been brutal,” he added.

Queen Camilla, King Charles III, Prince William, and Princess Kate. Chris Jackson/Getty Images For Buckingham Palace

Charles, 75, announced his cancer diagnosis in February, one week after undergoing what Buckingham Palace referred to as a routine prostate procedure. Kate, 42, kept a low profile throughout the month of March following a “planned abdominal surgery” at the beginning of the year, leading to widespread speculation and online conspiracy theories regarding her whereabouts. On March 22, the Princess of Wales announced that she had also been diagnosed with cancer. (Specifics about Charles and Kate’s respective diagnoses have not been made public.)

William and Kate, along with kids Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, released a video in September offering a major health update on the Princess of Wales — Kate announced that she had completed her course of preventive chemotherapy treatments. (Charles’ treatments are still ongoing, though the King briefly paused those treatments during his 11-day royal tour of Australia and Samoa in October 2024.)

“She’s doing well,” William told The Times, referring to his wife and her health. Kate has started to make her slow return to public duties, even attending the National Service of Remembrance ceremony in London on Sunday alongside other senior members of the royal family.

William also spoke briefly about his wife’s condition during the Earthshot Prize ceremony on Wednesday.

“She’s doing really well, thanks,” he told reporters at the time. “Hopefully, she is watching tonight. Cheering me on.”

He added, “She’s been amazing this whole year. I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success.”