Jamiesfeast – The Prince of Wales, heir to the throne, will be taking on additional responsibilities in place of his father, the King, as Charles undergoes treatment for cancer.
William will be resuming his official engagements this week, as stated by Kensington Palace. The announcement was made just a few hours before Buckingham Palace revealed the King’s diagnosis to the public.
The announcement of William’s return is seen as a way to demonstrate stability within the monarchy, even in the face of challenging times for the royal family.
At 41 years old, the prince is currently managing the health issues within his own immediate family. The Princess of Wales is currently in the early stages of recovering from a significant abdominal surgery.
Three weeks ago, he temporarily stepped back from his royal role to take care of his wife and their children after Kate’s operation.
The King’s return to full public duties has not been scheduled yet, and it is anticipated that the princess will be absent from public duties until after Easter.
William, the Queen, and the Princess Royal will play pivotal roles in overseeing affairs, alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
As a future king and the senior royal in the line of succession, William is anticipated to take on additional duties on behalf of the King, alongside his own diary of engagements. It is expected that he will bear the majority of the responsibility, given his position.
But Charles, who is renowned for his workaholic tendencies, will continue working diligently behind the scenes, attending to his signature red boxes. These boxes hold his official papers and state business matters.
The King will also conduct his weekly audience with the PM and monthly Privy Council meetings, both of which can be carried out remotely.
In May, Canada was eagerly awaiting the arrival of the King and Queen for their scheduled visit. Later in October, they were also set to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Australia, New Zealand, and Samoa.
Charles’s illness raises the possibility that William may have to step in for the King, who serves as the head of the Commonwealth, at CHOGM, similar to how Charles did for the late Queen in previous instances.
Depending on the progress of the King’s health, other trips may be postponed.
In the upcoming months, William may have important roles in several events. These include the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in early March and the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June.
On Wednesday, William will be conducting an investiture at Windsor Castle, which is one of his regular duties. He will also be attending the London Air Ambulance annual fundraising evening gala in central London in his capacity as the charity’s patron.
Charles contacted his two sons to notify them about his condition before making a public announcement. Despite their strained relationship, the Duke of Sussex made arrangements to fly to the UK and be by his father’s side.
According to sources, William has developed a closer bond with Charles following Harry’s series of controversial interviews, documentary, and memoir. These events involved Harry making numerous allegations against his family. William, who maintains regular communication with the King, has reportedly grown closer to Charles as a result.
The ongoing rift between William and his brother leaves uncertainty about whether they will meet during his trip to London.