Prince William asked father King Charles to reduce his royal workload: book

Prince William allegedly wanted to reduce his royal duties in 2024 but was encouraged to “think again” by his ailing father, a new book claims.

The claim was made by royal biographer Robert Jobson. “Windsor Legacy” obtained exclusively by UK’s DailyMail. According to the press, the British journalist said that William’s father and his wife Kate Middleton were “shaken to their core” by the double cancer diagnosis. However, King III. Charles refused this request.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Kensington Palace for comment. “We do not comment on books,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson previously told Fox News Digital.

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Jobson also wrote that both William and Kate “became more religious” as they quietly weathered the tumultuous year.

“William, never known as a regular worshiper, now attends church more often than in the past, albeit as privately as possible,” Jobson wrote.

According to Robert Jobson, both the Prince and Princess of Wales became more religious. (Dominique Jacovides/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Several royal experts told Fox News Digital that William is struggling to support his father, wife and three children while taking on more royal duties as heir to the throne in 2024.

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Describing this year as “brutal” for the 43-year-old prince, British publisher and photographer Helena Chard said, “This situation has proven to be damaging to him.”

“He struggled to keep everything OK,” he said. “Talking to his father about his workload showed his strength and caring side. He needed a breather to gather himself and give his all to the monarchy. He should be applauded for his honesty and understanding that he needed some time to step back.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales, together with Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, attend King George III on 6 May 2023. Arriving at Westminster Abbey ahead of the coronation of Charles and Queen Camilla. (Andrew Milligan/Pool via REUTERS)

According to Jobson’s book, the king had “been typically stoic about his increasing level of pain” before his cancer diagnosis. A senior member of the royal family told Jobson that the situation had “deteriorated so dramatically” that a doctor was called.

Robert Jobson claimed in his book that King Charles was struggling with pain before he was diagnosed with cancer. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

“The King was given morphine (one of the most powerful painkillers available), fitted with a catheter and taken to Aberdeen Hospital,” Jobson said. “But the cancer was not discovered until several months later, in January last year, while doctors were still undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate.”

In early February 2024, Buckingham Palace announced that the king had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer and had begun treatment. The Palace said a “separate matter of concern was noted” during Charles’ treatment for an enlarged prostate.

King Charles III will depart on January 29, 2024, after receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate at the London Clinic. (Carl Court/Getty Images)

Then in March 2024, Kate announced that she, too, had cancer. Jobson described the news as “a sinister twist of fate” for William.

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The Prince and Princess of Wales share three young children. From left to right: Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte. (Photo: Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images)

“William’s desire to reduce engagements was actually more about the challenges he was dealing with – supporting Princess Catherine through her health issues, the emotional demands of young children and, beyond that, his duties as heir to the throne.” British royal expert Hilary Fordwich he told Fox News Digital.

“Everything he does is in the service of others. Given his sense of duty, this is one of the many reasons why he remains at the top of popularity polls in the UK.”

Both the Princess of Wales and King Charles were diagnosed with cancer in 2024. (Karwai Tang/Getty Images)

“He is extremely determined to protect his family while modernizing the monarchy,” Fordwich said. “He knows that the future of the monarchy depends on his approval ratings, so he’s under serious pressure. This was causing him really serious stress.”

Prince William, Prince of Wales (left) and King George III. Charles attends the Countdown to COP30 at the Natural History Museum in London on 9 October 2025. Hosted by the Natural History Museum and the UK government, the event brings together climate ambassadors from around the world ahead of the COP30 summit. (Henry Nicholls-Pool/Getty Images)

Jobson stated that although there was “underlying tension” between father and son over their views on work ethic and traditions, they “generally worked well together.”

“The King gladly consults him and greatly trusts him to do what is right,” Jobson wrote.

Royal biographer Andrew Lownie claimed that Prince William (right, seen with Prince Andrew in London on September 16, 2025) was known for his temper. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Still, it doesn’t help that “they both have a fiery temper that cannot always be kept in check. Some staff say working for Charles can be like ‘treading on eggshells’.” Of Prince William, Jobson wrote that senior aides knew “to tread lightly around the prince, paying attention to his mood swings before bringing up sensitive topics.”

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Royal experts told Fox News Digital that Prince William is known for taking a tougher stance than his father, King Charles, who is still being treated for cancer. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Chard said that although William and Charles were “on the same page”, the prince was known to have a “tougher line than his father”.

“He is determined and determined,” he said. “He doesn’t suffer from analysis paralysis or fall prey to stupidity, and gets on with it quickly. There’s no overthinking or acting like a child when initiating change. Instead, he has a ‘can-do’, hands-on, collaborative approach to his work. He has a knack for bringing his team together and instilling optimism. And let’s not forget that, as heir to the throne, he has a long road of work ahead of him as king.”

Still image of Catherine, Princess of Wales, taken from a video in which she gives personal information about her treatment and recovery. (Will Warr)

In September 2024, Kate posted a glowing video shoot announcing that she had completed chemotherapy in Norfolk. A senior source from the House told Jobson that Queen Camilla was “deeply relieved” but joked that the video was “like a shampoo advert”.

Robert Jobson has claimed Queen Camilla joked that Kate Middleton’s video announcing she had completed chemotherapy looked “like a shampoo advert”. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Kate announced in January this year that she was cancer free.

Jobson wrote that William asked his father to slow down and listen to his medical team as the 76-year-old king continued treatment. Palace aides also said the monarchy had become “more emotional”. Charles was “burst into tears” after receiving thousands of letters from around the world wishing him well.

King III. Charles read cards and messages sent by well-wishers after he was diagnosed with cancer in the 18th Century Room of the Belgian Suite at Buckingham Palace on February 21, 2024. (Jonathan Brady/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

“Charles now takes regular afternoon naps,” Jobson wrote. “And after skipping meals for most of his life, he started eating lunch again — usually spinach soup.”

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Prince William is the heir to the British throne. (Chris Jackson/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Fordwich said William focused on strengthening the monarchy for his reign.

“Prince William is determined to avoid lurid controversy and wants to bury the scandals that have so harmfully distracted from his public duty,” she said. “He really wants a clean break from his despicable uncle Andrew. He is determined and strategic in everything he does to ensure the survival of the monarchy.”

Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales, reacts as he meets people during his visit to a new mental health center run by the Jac Lewis Foundation at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on September 10, 2025. (Chris Jackson/AFP via Getty Images)

William, who recently appeared in Eugene Levy’s “The Reluctant Traveler,” admitted that 2024 is the “hardest year” he’s ever experienced.

Actor Eugene Levy is seen here filming an episode of “The Reluctant Traveler” with Prince William outside Windsor Castle. (AppleTV+)

“I can say that 2024 is the hardest year I have ever experienced. You know, life is sent to test us and being able to overcome it is what makes us who we are,” William said.

In November 2024, while in South Africa for the Earthshot Award event, William reflected on the pain he had caused his family over the past year.

Prince William is greeted by well-wishers during his visit to Kalk Bay Port in Cape Town, South Africa, on November 7, 2024. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

“It was a terrible year. It was probably the hardest year of my life. So it’s been really hard trying to juggle everything else and keep everything on track.”

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Prince William continues to support his father, King Charles. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

“But I’m proud of my wife and my father for dealing with what they did. But from a personal family perspective, yes, it was brutal,” he said during a media interview.