Burden falls on Prince William to steer monarchy through next few months

With his father and wife diagnosed with cancer and estranged from his once beloved brother, the blows have come thick and fast

For the Prince of Wales, the blows have come swiftly one after the other. First his father, King Charles, revealed that he had been diagnosed with cancer, and then came the news from doctors that his wife, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, also has cancer.

The stress on the heir to the throne will be considerable. Not only must he support his wife and father, he must also shepherd his young children through a family medical crisis in the glare of global media coverage. And he must shoulder much of the responsibility of steering the monarchy through challenging months ahead.