Prince William is reportedly getting ready for his future role as king as his father, Charles, continues to battle cancer.

Reports suggest that the king’s cancer diagnosis has made “everything more urgent.” However, a royal expert notes that the preparations for this transition would have been underway even before the monarch’s diagnosis last year.

Prince William being ‘prepared for role as king’

According to a source, Prince William and his wife, Kate, may be preparing to assume the throne sooner than anticipated.

Last year, the king was diagnosed with cancer and has been undergoing treatment ever since, with reports indicating that he is currently doing well.

In the previous month, Charles was hospitalised due to “temporary side-effects” from his treatment. However, his stay was short, and he was back to work the following week.

Although his recovery was swift, it has served as a reminder of the situation for many.

Royal author Tom Quinn spoke to Harper’s Bazaar and mentioned, “The people I’ve spoken to have said that the succession planning, as they call it, began even before Charles’ diagnosis. I mean, he’s the oldest Prince of Wales to become king in history, so succession planning had begun before Charles came to the throne simply because of the age issue.”

Prince William ‘might have to become king earlier than expected’

Quinn then went on.

“Officials and aides—those who work closely with William, Kate, and Charles—are all aware that William may need to ascend the throne sooner than anticipated. It’s partly because of the cancer, and partly because Charles is already 76. He might have another 10 years, maybe even 20, but the cancer diagnosis is a wake-up call,” he said.

Conscious that William might have to become king earlier than expected.

Quinn also mentioned that Queen Camilla “still worries” about her husband not slowing down despite his diagnosis. However, he claimed that the king has always been quite “impatient”.

Meanwhile, royal author Robert Hardman noted that the palace is probably “preparing William by giving him more of the kind of work Charles would typically handle.” He stated that Charles’ cancer diagnosis “has made everything more urgent.”

King Charles ‘not slowing down’ despite cancer diagnosis

In addition, royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith has pointed out signs of fatigue from the king.