Prince William hopes Kate can join him on foreign trips next year after cancer treatment

The Prince of Wales has said he is hopeful Kate Middleton will have recovered enough from her cancer treatment for foreign travel next year, as he spoke candidly about putting passion before pageantry as heir to the throne.

In an interview, Prince William said he hopes to connect with the next generation by putting a ‘smaller R in royal’, as he revealed his optimism that ‘Catherine will be doing a bit more next year’, following what has been an intense year of health concerns for the royal couple.

William spelled out his philosophy at the end of a major visit to South Africa where he mixed the informal with traditional elements of the monarchy, and said he was trying to do things ‘differently’ and wanted to be a prince for his ‘generation’.
The future king said what mattered to him was ‘impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people’ and stressed ’empathy’ was also important ‘because I really care about what I do’.

He said he hoped to carry out overseas tours with the Princess of Wales, who this autumn returned to royal duties after completing a course of cancer treatment.

His comments were made in an interview with British press at the end of a four-day visit to Cape Town, which concluded on Thursday, where the prince staged his Earthshot Prize environmental awards.

Asked about a modern approach to the monarchy he appeared to be adopting, William replied: ‘It’s hard to describe what that is all about, but I can only describe what I’m trying to do, and that’s I’m trying to do it differently and I’m trying to do it for my generation.

And to give you more (of) an understanding around it, I’m doing it with maybe a smaller “r” in the royal, if you like, that’s maybe a better way of saying it.’

During his time in Cape Town, William performed the statesman-like duty of sitting down for talks with South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa, but also dressed casually and took part in informal events.

He also enjoyed a walkabout with nature conservationist Steve Irwin’s son.

The projects he is pursuing, attempting to find solutions to homelessness and major environmental issues, are contemporary issues growing in prominence that are likely to resonate with a younger generation.

William explained his aims: ‘So it’s more about impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people.

‘And I’m also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do. It helps impact people’s lives.

And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world.

‘So that’s what I’m trying to bring, that’s what Catherine is trying to bring as well.’