WILLIAM'S 'BRUTAL' YEAR

The Prince Of Wales praises his wife and father as he opens up on the tough challenges of 2024 while visiting Cape Town to present the Earthshot Prize Awards

- REBECCA RUSSELL

He may only be 42 years old, but the Prince of Wales has already built himself a formidable legacy by fighting to protect the environment, changing the narrative around mental health and doing everything he can to eradicate homelessness in the UK.

While each cause has its time to shine, Prince William’s environmental work took centre stage last week as the Earthshot Prize returned for the fourth time — but that wasn’t the only reason this year’s ceremony had everyone talking. In a rare move, William gave a searingly honest and unprecedented interview to UK journalists in Cape Town about his “brutal” year which saw King Charles, who turns 76 this week, and the Princess of Wales, 42, diagnosed with cancer.

Opening up, 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. But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been brutal.”

Even though many have dubbed this year as another annus horribilis for the royal family, William drew on an impressive sense of inner strength to see this Earthshot Prize ceremony through and has been praised for his genuine passion to make the world a better, greener place. And, on his journey to do so, it was clear that his greatest inspirations, his three young children, were never far from his thoughts.