Prince William was warned about his marriage by his father, King Charles.
“(His father) said, ‘Look, William, there’s nothing more important than your family,’” says Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine and author of “My mother and I”, told Fox News Digital.
“Don’t make the mistakes I made,” Seward asserted. “I was just doing duty, duty, duty. I neglected my marriage, and look what happened.”
PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON ARE LIKE ‘TEENS IN LOVE’ WHO ADOPT THE ROYAL PROTOCOL: EXPERT
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, believes King Charles gave Prince William no-nonsense advice on marriage based on personal experiences. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
And there are lessons to be learned from the king’s past.
Charles met Camilla Parker Bowles at a polo match in 1970. The two became close, but their romance was interrupted by his eight months of naval service. During his absence, Camilla married her long-time boyfriend, army officer Andrew Parker Bowles, in 1973.
In 1981, Charles married Lady Diana Spencer. The union was plagued with problems and was scrutinized by the tabloids.
Camilla and Andrew divorced in 1995, shortly after Charles gave an explosive interview in which he admitted an affair with his former love. Charles and Diana’s divorce was finalized in 1996, a year before the princess died in a car accident at the age of 36.
“(His father) said, ‘Look, William, there’s nothing more important than your family. Don’t make the mistakes I made. All I did was duty, duty, duty. I neglected my marriage and look what happened .'”
The marriage of King Charles and Princess Diana was unhappy. (Reuters)
Charles and Camilla married in 2005. They were crowned king and queen in 2023.
King Charles acceded to the throne after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022. He was crowned in 2023. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
William met Kate Middleton when they were studying at St. Andrews University in 2001. The following year they moved in together with friends. The couple eventually moved into their own home in 2003, a year before their relationship became public.
The couple split in 2007 after almost five years of dating and got back together later that year. William proposed to Kate in 2010, and the couple married in 2011.
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Kate Middleton and Prince William on their wedding day in 2011. (Mark Cuthbert/British Press via Getty Images)
The Prince and Princess of Wales share three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Willem does heir to the British throne.
Seward said Charles is a “huge supporter” of the union and encouraged William to put his duty aside when Kate faced a major health blow.
In January this year, Kensington Palace announced that Kate had undergone ‘planned abdominal surgery’. William postponed official royal duties to be by Kate’s side and support their family.
In March, Kate Middleton announced that her cancer had been found after a planned abdominal surgery. (Getty Images)
After the princess became the subject of online conspiracy theories about her health, the 42-year-old revealed in March that “cancer was present” after her surgery.
Following Kate’s announcement, William took time off to support his wife.
In September, Kate announced that she was cancer-free. The princess, who appeared alongside her husband and their children, described how difficult the past nine months had been for her family. She expressed “relief” at completing her course of treatment.
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Prince William and Kate Middleton joined the rest of the royal family in June for the 2024 Trooping the Color ceremony. (Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
“I think she has had fantastic support from Prince William,” Seward said. “He said publicly that this was the hardest year he’s ever had, and it was very… hard. So we can only imagine how difficult it (really) must have been because William also had to reassure their three young children that moms will be fine, who are very concerned when they see their parents not feeling well, especially for such a long time.”
“I think it’s been really tough and he’s been a huge support to me,” Seward said. “And in turn he was supported by his father.”
In her video announcement, Kate said she was “looking forward to getting back to work” but planned to “take each day as it comes.” Seward noted that Kate was “holding up really well.”
Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Prince William, Prince of Wales, attend the ceremonial welcome at Horse Guards Parade during Qatar’s visit to the United Kingdom on December 3, 2024 in London. (Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images)
“She doesn’t really do evening dates,” Seward said. “The only evening engagement she has this week is her own carol service at Westminster Abbey, which is being recorded for broadcast on Christmas Eve.”
People Magazine reported that Kate has approached each of the 1,600 guests who will gather at Westminster Abbey on December 6 with an emotional letter.
In it, she described how the holidays are one of her favorite times of the year.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children during the annual Christmas service at Westminster Abbey on December 8, 2023 in London. (Aaron Chown/WPA Pool/Getty Images)
“It also gives us the opportunity to slow down and think about the deeper things that connect us all,” she shared, as quoted by the outlet. “It is when we stop and remove ourselves from the pressures of everyday life that we find the space to live our lives with an open heart, with love, kindness and forgiveness – so much of what the Christmas spirit is about.”
She also said that the Christmas story “reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, and how much we need each other despite our differences.”
“Above all, it encourages us to turn to love, not fear,” says Kate. “The love we show ourselves and the love we show others. Love that listens with empathy, love that is kind and understanding, love that is forgiving and love that brings joy and hope.
Kate Middleton slowly returns to royal duties, supporting her husband Prince William (center) and her father-in-law King Charles. (Mark Cuthbert/British Press via Getty Images)
“It is this love that is the greatest gift we can receive. … Love is the light that can shine brightly even in our darkest times. We all have something we can offer each other. Soft words or a receptive ear, an arm around us an exhausted shoulder, or standing quietly next to someone.”
Kate’s carol service “is a heartfelt celebration of you all, and a reminder that at Christmas, and all year round, we should all shine for each other,” she said.
“For in times of joy and sorrow, we are all each other’s light.”
WATCH: KING CHARLES GAVE THIS WARNING TO PRINCE WILLIAM ABOUT THE MARRIAGE: AUTHOR
The outlet noted that Kate and William, 42, will be joined by other members of the royal family. It is also likely that the couple will bring their three children with them, as they have done in the past.
“I think Catherine has an enormous warmth for other people, and that’s something that (her mother-in-law Princess) Diana I did too,” Seward said. “I think she’s completely sincere, and I think she feels like if she does something for others that’s really going to help them, it makes everyone feel good.
“I think she’ll be very focused on that going forward,” Seward said. “She’ll just do what she can. I think when you’re sick like she was – remember, not only did she have cancer, she had abdominal surgery – it must have been very scary.
Kate Middleton announced in September that she was cancer-free. (Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
“I’m sure she does exactly what her medical team says… and they always say the same thing. They say, ‘Rest, rest, rest.’ I think she’ll follow that and she’ll do what she can if she can.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
