Expert Reveals Why William Is Being Prepared to Take Throne 'Earlier Than Expected': 'Charles Knows...'

Heir to the throne, Prince William, may become king sooner than expected, and the royal family is gearing up for the change, as per several media reports. The growing speculation coincides with King Charles' health scare. William, in the last year, has also shown that he is prepared for a bigger, more significant role in the monarchy after Charles stepped back to focus on cancer treatment.

Charles was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, after undergoing medical treatment for an enlarged prostate. As reported by Harper’s Bazaar, royal author Tom Quinn said, “The people I have spoken to have said that the succession planning, as they call it, began even before Charles’ diagnosis. I mean, he is the oldest Prince of Wales to become king in history, so succession planning had begun before Charles came to the throne simply because of the age issue.” He added, “[Royal family] is preparing William by giving him more of the sort of work that Charles would do...Obviously, the cancer diagnosis has made everything more urgent.”

Quinn further explained, “Officials and aides...are all conscious that William might have to become king earlier than expected...He [Charles] could go on another 10 years, or he could go on for 20 years. But with the cancer diagnosis, it’s a wake-up call. Charles knows that he isn’t going to be king for that long.” Royal author, Christopher Andersen, meanwhile, noted, “William has willingly been the visible face of the monarchy while all this drama is going on, but that doesn’t mean he’s not hurting.”

During an interview in November 2024, William opened up about the tough times he was facing, dubbing 2024 the hardest year of his life as both his wife and father were diagnosed with cancer. Kate Middleton shared news of her cancer in March 2024, via a video message. She received chemotherapy and was declared cancer-free in January 2025. Meanwhile, although the King has returned to work, some adjustments will still be needed on account of his health. This means William will increasingly take on more responsibility.

As reported by the BBC, royal author Pauline Maclaran said, "It must feel like the weight of the world is on him. The future of the monarchy rests on his shoulders.” Experts believe that William and Middleton are fully aware that their time as Prince and Princess of Wales could be short-lived, and they’re already planning for the future within themselves. Just last month, Charles was hospitalized for temporary side effects from his chemotherapy and had to stay at a hospital for brief observation. Thereafter, he took a break from work for two weeks.