It is customary to say that misfortune does not strike twice in the same place. But this adage is unfortunately not always true, as Prince William recently noted. In 2024, the Prince of Wales indeed experienced a double cancer: that of his wife, Kate, and his father, Charles III. An ordeal that upsets roles and weakens the landmarks, according to Amélie Boukhobza, clinical psychologist.
“Life puts us to the test”
Barely a few weeks apart, Prince William had to face the announcement of two cancers, touching both his father – Charles III – and his wife – Kate Middleton. After having long kept the secret, Louis’s mother, Charlotte and George revealed to the whole world that she suffered one “preventive chemotherapy“Following analyzes that revealed “The presence of cancer“For his part, Charles III has cancer of which he has revealed neither the stage nor nature.
Two fights carried out in parallel in the royal family, which shaken Prince William.
“”I would say that 2024 was the most difficult year of my life. You know, life also puts us to the test, and it is by overcoming these trials that we are that we are“, He told Canadian screenwriter Eugene Levy during the shooting of the program” The reiluting traveler “.
Except that if some good news has since fallen – Kate Middleton is now in remission – the consequences of the disease are numerous (especially for the whole family).
“We are doing good, we show stoicism during treatment. Once the treatment is over, we say to ourselves: I can resume my normal life, but in reality, this is not the case. These are real roller coaster (…) Reality is that we are going through difficult moments”, had underlined the princess with frankness.
A appreciated transparency, but which speaks volumes about the trials crossed.
A real “emotional storm” for the prince
According to our expert psychologist, the disease leaves no one unscathed: neither the subjects concerned, nor the relatives – upset by this announcement.
“The pain does not spare those who live in palaces. The disease always recalls the same thing: no one is protected. Behind the crowns, there is just a worried son for his father, a husband with his sick wife, a father who must continue to reassure his children”, underlines Amélie Boukhobza.
The most exhausting is not anxiety for the other.
“It is rather the role to play. Ending the public service, keeping a smile, ensuring – while crossing an emotional storm. Constantly compose between your pain and the image that we give. This is the harsh reality of the caregiver, which must remain strong when it can no longer, which must hold for others without finding space for yourself. Universal fatigue, whether one is prince or anonymous”, specifies the practitioner.
As usual, disease upsets roles, weakens landmarks and “obliges to draw on resources that we did not imagine“Concludes the psychologist.
So many reasons which must also push the caregiver to take care of his physical and mental health. An often necessary form of respite (by accepting for example to delegate the accompaniment of a loved one) to get better … and not to crack.