LONDON - Prince William said the past year had probably been the "hardest" of his life after a difficult period for Britain's royal family in which both his father King Charles and wife Kate were diagnosed with cancer.

Speaking to British media at the end of a visit to South Africa, the heir to the throne reflected on how he was coping while balancing his duties as a royal with family time, the BBC and other publications reported on Nov 8.

Asked how his year has been, William said: "Honestly? It's been dreadful. It's probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult."

Charles is undergoing treatment for cancer which was diagnosed in February, although he recently travelled to Australia and Samoa.

Kate, 42, underwent preventative chemotherapy for cancer in 2024, and she has previously described an "incredibly tough" year for the family.

"I'm so proud of my wife, I'm proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done," William said. "But from a personal family point of view, it's been brutal."

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