Prince William and Kate Middleton’s relationship has endured for decades and remains as strong as ever.
Roya Nikkhah, the royal editor for The Sunday Times and co-host of the podcast “The Royals with Roya and Kate,” told Fox News Digital that the Prince and Princess of Wales are “still very into each other” despite facing a challenging year.
“When you see them on engagements, they’re obviously still very into each other,” Nikkhah remarked. “One’s always looking out for the other. Recently, when they were in Southport together, you could see that… she was a bit more vulnerable. I think they’ve got each other’s backs.”
Nikkhah continued, “I think when you have that weight of public scrutiny on you, it’s very hard to keep a little bit of your private life private because you are so publicly scrutinized. But if you look at the video they put out when [Kate] announced she’d finished chemotherapy, we never get to see them like that.”
“A lot of people were quite surprised to see how open they were in terms of letting the cameras film them as they were, as they would like us to see them, which was hugging a lot, kissing and being extremely close physically on a blanket,” she added.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams shared with Fox News Digital that from the very beginning of the couple’s marriage, William “zealously guarded his family’s privacy.”
“He postponed beginning full-time royal duties for as long as he could for this purpose,” said Fitzwilliams. “William and Catherine… have always indicated their private closeness and harmony, which they project publicly so well, as does their competitive spirit, especially when they relax during royal tours that involve competitive sports.”
“As the future king and queen, they have a loving family who are the center of their lives,” he shared. “The recent video when Catherine told us she was clear of cancer showed intimate moments between them. The royal family is not known for public displays of affection, but their body language spoke volumes. Catherine’s illness with William spending so much time with her will, if that is possible, draw them even closer.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales first crossed paths as students at St. Andrews University in 2001. They tied the knot in 2011 and are proud parents to three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
The royal family has faced a series of health challenges this year, starting with the January announcement that King Charles III would be treated for an enlarged prostate, while Kate underwent abdominal surgery.
In February, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Charles was receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. Six weeks later, Kate revealed that she, too, was undergoing cancer treatment, putting an end to the widespread speculation about her health that had been circulating on social media since her surgery.
After Kate’s revelation, William took a break from his duties to be by her side and offer his support.
Kate Middleton, dressed in a white top with navy stripes, was seen sitting on a bench as she announced her battle with cancer.
In September, the 42-year-old shared the uplifting news that she was cancer-free. Appearing with her husband and their children, the princess reflected on the challenges her family faced over the past nine months. She expressed “relief” at successfully completing her treatment.
“This time has above all reminded William and me to reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved,” she said.
Helena Chard, a British broadcaster and photographer, shared with Fox News Digital that the Prince and Princess of Wales are experiencing a “happy, stable family life full of fun, love and laughter.”
“They strive to keep the majority of their personal tactile life private,” said Chard. “During their earlier years, they enjoyed partying at certain clubs. But for many years they’ve fueled and energized each other through enjoying competitive sports and pursuing all things fun in the great outdoors.”
The Prince and Princess of Wales were seen smiling warmly at each other on the palace balcony alongside their three children.
“The Prince and Princess of Wales are best friends, each other’s support blanket and cheerleader,” said Chard. “Laughter and enjoying the small things in life together is their medicine. Princess Catherine’s unexpected illness and scary cancer journey have brought them closer together with the realization that life is so fragile. They love and appreciate each other more than ever.”
During a visit to Cape Town, South Africa, on Nov. 7, William acknowledged that 2024 had been “brutal” and “the hardest year” of his life. He reflected on taking on the role of Prince of Wales following the passing of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022.
“Trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult,” the 42-year-old said, as quoted by People magazine. “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.”
A body language expert observed that “Prince William and Kate Middleton are crazy about one another,” as mentioned in a video.
William also stated that Kate is “doing well.” When someone remarked that he appeared relaxed, the prince replied, “I couldn’t be less relaxed this year, so it’s very interesting you’re all seeing that.”
He continued, “But it’s more a case of just crack on, and you’ve got to keep going. I enjoy my work, and I enjoy pacing myself and keeping sure that I have got time for my family, too.”
British royals expert Hilary Fordwich recently told Fox News Digital that as Kate resumes her royal responsibilities, Prince William will stand by her side to provide essential support.
“A picture tells a thousand words, and there have been several times when their affection is reminiscent of two teenagers in love, which of course they initially were, well in their early 20s,” Fordwich said.
Reflecting on their earlier years, Fordwich shared, “William played water polo and would train for the swimming component in the Old Course Hotel pool, the same pool where Kate would swim many mornings.”
“It was there that their athletic instincts were apparent to each other, albeit at that time they were still just friends. Dark winter mornings, rising before 5 a.m. aren’t for most university students. They each knew the other was health conscious, yet another attribute they have in common. It’s where they developed such comfort with each other,” she explained.
Fordwich also remarked on their relationship today, saying, “Their displays of public affection nowadays demonstrate they have no hesitation or reservation in letting the world know exactly how they feel about one another when they deem it appropriate to do so. Their comfort with each other from those deep bonds formed at university has never waned, but rather have grown.”