King Charles continues to receive treatment for cancer, following his diagnosis in February last year.

Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, is now in remission. Despite moments of progress, it has been one of the most challenging years for the Royal Family in recent memory.

With both his father and wife battling serious illness, Prince William has shouldered a growing number of royal duties. But according to a new book, when he reached out to his father for support, King Charles’s response was surprisingly curt—just two words long.

King Charles’s Ongoing Cancer Battle

When King Charles publicly revealed his cancer diagnosis, he was praised for his openness about his health. The monarch withdrew from public duties at the time, focusing on treatment behind closed doors while continuing to carry out state responsibilities as much as possible.

Just a month later, Kate Middleton shared her own cancer diagnosis in a moving video message, expressing compassion for others facing the same battle.

“At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer,” she said. “For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.”

In their absence, Prince William and Queen Camilla took on the bulk of public engagements, representing the Royal Family during one of its most fragile periods.

Prince William’s Plea — and the King’s Blunt Reply

Royal author Robert Jobson’s new book, The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty, sheds light on what unfolded behind palace doors during these turbulent months.

According to Jobson, Prince William was “totally crestfallen” as he tried to balance caring for Kate and their three children with his royal obligations. In an interview with The Times earlier this year, he described it as “the hardest year of my life.”

The book reveals that after his father’s diagnosis, William urged King Charles to slow down and listen to the advice of his doctors. He reportedly even suggested cutting his own royal engagements to around ten for the year so he could focus on his wife’s recovery and their family life.

But the King was not receptive. Jobson writes that Charles responded to his son’s proposal with a firm, two-word retort: “Think again.”

Ongoing Tensions Between Father and Son

Tensions between King Charles and Prince William are said to have surfaced more than once. Royal correspondent Rebecca English previously reported that “angry rows” between the two had been overheard by palace staff, despite the walls meant to keep such matters private.

“Harsh words have been exchanged in the past, angry rows permeating even the thickest castle walls, sometimes within earshot of staff,” English wrote in the Daily Mail.

She also noted disagreements on official matters, including whether to retain ivory items within the Royal Collection. “William wants to burn them, Charles believes they should be kept as historical artefacts,” she wrote, adding that their differences “not so long ago resulted in a ‘frank’ exchange.”

As both men navigate personal and public challenges, the bond between the King and his heir remains complex—defined by shared duty, but also by generational contrast in how they lead the monarchy through modern times.