Prince William 'so proud' of Kate and Charles after health battles with cancer

Prince William took a leave of absence earlier this year to care for his wife Kate Middleton and their children after she revealed that she was undergoing cancer treatment

Prince William has opened up about the King and Princess of Wales being diagnosed with cancer, describing the year as "the hardest in my life" but saying he is "so proud" of them.

In an incredibly open and honest interview during a solo visit to South Africa, William also spoke of his pride in his father Charles, 74, and his wife Kate, 42, for the bravery they have shown throughout their ordeal. Speaking of the annus horribilis, Latin for terrible year, the future monarch 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.” The late Queen branded 1992 an annus horribilis after the royal family suffered a series of setbacks including a fire at Windsor Castle.

This year, Charles went to hospital with an enlarged prostate, spending three nights at The London Clinic in January, while Kate spent nearly two weeks there after abdominal surgery. Buckingham Palace announced on February 5 the monarch had a form of cancer, while the princess was diagnosed just days later, although she did not share the news until late March.

William took a leave of absence to care for Kate and their three children but announced his return to royal duties this week at the Earthshot Prize awards at a glittering ceremony in Cape Town. The prince celebrated the success of the fourth instalment of his global environmental awards - giving away five £1million prizes each year over a decade for solutions to the most pressing climate issues, as well as taking the phenomenon to Africa for the first time.

William, also 42, met inspiring young people from townships using sport to lift themselves from poverty, entrepreneurs, environmentalists and the South African president Cyril Ramaphosa. He also joined supermodels Heidi Klum and Winnie Harlow – who presented awards – on a boat tour of the picturesque fishing village of Kalk Bay.

Royal aides said the trip was evidence of William emerging into a new era of statesmanship, after being in the role of Prince of Wales for the last two years since his father became King. There is no doubt William has entered a new phase, from the causes he has taken on, to his ambitions for the future.

In the last year he has also launched Homewards, an ambitious five-year project to tackle homelessness. Such projects – and his wife Kate’s crusade to highlight the importance of early years development in children – appear to now be the bedrock of their future.

Asked whether he was enjoying the responsibility and the freedom in his new role, he said: “It’s a tricky one. Do I like more responsibility? No. Do I like the freedom that I can build something like Earthshot, then yes. And that’s the future for me. It’s very important with my role and my platform, that I’m doing something for good."