Prince William open with children about Catherine’s cancer

Prince William has admitted that he was open with his children about the Princess of Wales’s cancer diagnosis.

The Prince of Wales spoke to Brazilian television while in the country for the Earthshot Prize and shared how he and the Princess spoke to their children about Catherine’s cancer.

He admitted that the three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, posed difficult questions, and the couple decided it was best to be honest about the situation.

Prince William said, “We decided to tell our children everything, both the good news and the bad. We explain to them why certain things happen and why they might feel upset.

“Many questions might come up without answers — I think all parents go through that. There’s no rulebook for being a parent, and we chose to talk about everything.”

The Royal Family at Trooping the Colour in 2025. Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

Both King Charles and the Princess of Wales were diagnosed with undisclosed cancers in 2024. In January 2025, the Princess announced that she was in remission. The King is still undergoing treatment.

The Prince also revealed that his children do not have mobile phones due to the things they may see on the internet.

“I think children have too much access to things online that they don’t need to see. … We make it clear why we don’t approve. And again, I think the problem lies with internet access,” he said.

Prince George will get a smartphone “with limited access” once he begins secondary school.