Kate Middleton has focused more on religion amid her journey with cancer.
According to royal biographer Robert Hardman’s updated book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, excerpted in The Daily Mail, the Princess of Wales, 42, has become “more interested” in her faith after being diagnosed with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. Kate revealed her cancer diagnosis in March.
“I would say that things are more hopeful there,” a friend of the family who attends church tells Hardman in the excerpt of the updated version.
Her husband Prince William, though, “is a modern young man,” according to those who know him well. He “gets embarrassed by certain aspects of ceremonial and religion,” the excerpt published by Daily Mail says.
In contrast, Prince William’s father, King Charles III, has described his faith as “deeply rooted” in the Church of England upon becoming monarch, and has been a global defender of religion for decades. Meanwhile, the late Queen Elizabeth was known for her steadfast Christian beliefs.
Hardman previously wrote in his book, first released in January 2024, that the Prince of Wales, 42, could break from tradition and not take the title of Supreme Governor of the Church of England when he ascends the throne. The title has been affiliated with British monarchs for centuries, dating back to the 1530s with King Henry VIII.
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“In royal circles, it is no secret that he does not share the King’s sense of the spiritual, let alone the late Queen’s unshakeable devotion to the Anglican church,” Hardman wrote.
” ‘His father is very spiritual and happy to talk about faith but the Prince is not. He doesn’t go to church every Sunday, but then nor do the large majority of the country. He might go at Christmas and Easter but that’s it,’ ” according to a senior palace figure, Hardman said.
The author said that the palace source added: ” ‘[Prince William] very much respects the institutions but he is not instinctively comfortable in a faith environment.’ “
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The Princess of Wales shared her cancer news in a personal video message in March. She called the diagnosis a “huge shock” and said that she and Prince William “have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.”
In September, Kate revealed that she had completed chemotherapy. “Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” she said at the time.
