The Prince and Princess of Wales have faced numerous challenges in recent years, with William and Kate battling health concerns, family scandals and brutal conspiracy theories

The Prince and Princess of Wales have faced numerous challenges(Image: Getty Images)

Prince William and Kate have weathered a storm of challenges in recent years, navigating family strains and secret health battles.

The Prince and Princess of Wales have already had to navigate the breakdown of their relationship with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the turbulence of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the losses of Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth.

But 2024 delivered another devastating blow – the shocking cancer diagnoses of both Princess Kate, 43, and King Charles, 76. During her intense treatment, Kate remained out of the public eye for much of the year, but William, 42, has been a pillar of strength by her side.

Kate and William have been focusing on their children(Image: Getty Images)

Their bond has only deepened amid the hardship, with royal experts noting the unwavering support they provide one another. “There is a sense of protectiveness and partnership,” royal historian Amanda Foreman revealed to PEOPLE magazine.

“The last five years have been a nightmare for them in every possible way, and the past year even more so. That either crushes a marriage or brings it closer together.”

With the world in a state of uncertainty, she adds, their resilience is more vital than ever.

“If there was ever a time when the country required stability, this is it. The international stage is so unstable, and yet both have risen to the occasion.”

Jason Knauf, the couple’s former private secretary, shed further light on the struggles they have endured.

In a rare interview with 60 Minutes Australia, he described William at his lowest: “If you’re Prince William and you find out that both your wife and your father have cancer, that is unimaginably tough.”

Speaking candidly during his visit to Cape Town for the Earthshot Prize in November 2024, Prince William admitted: “Trying to get through everything and keep things on track has been really difficult.

“I’m so proud of my wife and my father for how they’ve handled everything. But from a personal, family point of view – it’s been brutal.”

Now, with Kate recently returning to royal duties after revealing in January that she is in remission, there is a renewed sense of hope.

Despite ongoing tensions with Prince Harry, 39, and Meghan Markle, 42 – who recently announced a second season of her Netflix series With Love, Meghan – William and Kate have remained tight-lipped, choosing instead to focus on their well-being and their three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.

Reflecting on Kate’s journey over the past year, royal biographer Robert Hardman observed: “There is definitely a feeling of resetting the dial—of being back.”

And according to Ailsa Anderson, a former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth, Kate has never been more admired by the public. “Fast-forward, and what a difference a year makes. She’s even more beloved in the nation’s hearts than she was.”