THROUGH THICK & THIN

As William and Kate celebrate their 13th wedding anniversary they're faced with her cancer battle and his 'frightening proximity' to the throne - but one thing is not in doubt: their devotion to each other

- NICI DE WET

A WEDDING anniversary is special – a time to reflect on the past 12 months and look ahead to another year and all that it may bring.

And for Prince William and Kate, who celebrated 13 years of marriage on 29 April, it would’ve been an anniversary like no other.

Last year’s anniversary was a very different story. The couple marked the occasion by posting a charming picture of themselves, William cool in shades, Kate healthy in a white blouse, both smiling on bicycles as the sun beams down on them.

Now a cloud hangs over their lives. She is battling cancer and he is juggling the roles of a caring husband, devoted father and part-time proxy to a king fighting his own health battles.

Yet despite all the drama of the past few months – the conspiracy theories about Kate’s disappearance, the rumours William was having an affair, the Photoshop scandal surrounding Kate’s doctored Mother’s Day photo, and the shocking cancer revelation – one thing is shining through: they are there for each other.

Their wedding vow of “in sickness and in health” has never been more profound and Wills is more Kate’s rock than ever.

Royal author Robert Jobson, who wrote William’s Princess: The Love Story That Will Change the Royal Family Forever, believes their “unshakeable bond” has only grown stronger since Kate became ill.

“Their anniversary now is a testament to not only their love but also their unity,” he says.

William (41) and Kate (42) have travelled a long road together – their romance dates back 20 years, longer than Diana was Princess of Wales and longer than King Charles has been married to Queen Camilla.