Prince William can show his own version of royalty
- Published
Prince William is at a crossroads. He hasn't spoken publicly yet about the King's cancer diagnosis, but he must have been thinking long and hard about it since his father gave him the news.
For anyone, this is shocking news, something difficult to digest. It's a situation in which both parent and child want to protect the other.
But it must feel to Prince William that the responsibilities lying ahead of him are closer than ever.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak went beyond what Buckingham Palace had revealed with the reassurance that the King's cancer had been caught at an early stage.
So there will be every expectation of a good recovery, with the King "wholly positive" and getting on with his meetings and paperwork that are part of his role as head of state.
Nonetheless, it must be a reminder to Prince William how his own role will change, not least in the short term, as he takes on more engagements while the King recuperates.
It won't be a brotherly double-act, with sources suggesting that when Prince Harry is in the UK there are no plans for him to meet his brother.
If Prince William has to step up and take on more royal duties, it will be a chance to see how differently he might do things in future.
Prince William's visits are intended to have a longer-term social impact
He already has his own style at public events. It's a generational difference.
Prince William seems to promise a modern, relaxed version of royalty. He's as comfortable with a tie-less monarchy as with ceremonial outfits. Perhaps more so.
On visits he can look like a dad at a private-school charity event - wealthy but progressive, driven by a social conscience, with good jeans as well as good genes.
You can see his security guards, mirroring the prince, looking like an armed detachment of casualwear models.
King Charles's cancer diagnosis
And the older guests, slightly overdressed for the occasion, can be seen smuggling their ties back into their pockets.
While the King remains a flag bearer for old-fashioned royal visits, embracing the crowds on walkabouts, Prince William seems at home in smaller, more focused, groups of people associated with a particular issue.
His causes, such as tackling homelessness and supporting mental health, are intended to make a long-term impact, rather than a loop-tape of handshakes and ribbon-cutting.
But the health news about his family is a reminder of how quickly life can change.
Prince William faces coping with the health problems of his wife and his father
Prince William, who was only young when he lost his mother, must be worrying about his father.
That's as well as helping his wife Catherine during her long-term recovery after abdominal surgery.
She is recuperating at home with their children in Adelaide Cottage, a four-bedroomed house on the Windsor estate. Their choice of home might seem like an attempt to be a normal family in a life that otherwise will always be strange.
While Prince William's concern will be for his wife to get better, the palaces will also be missing her media presence.
An appearance by Catherine, such a regular fixture on the front page of newspapers, has been an escape route from bad news.
It's likely that Catherine will not be able to carry out any official duties until after Easter and with the King recovering as well, it will mean the spotlight will fall more fully on Prince William.
It's a royal version of that transition from being the young mum or dad to that difficult stage of helping your own parents.
When the King returns to work, in some uncertain number of weeks, it will leave Prince William looking more clearly than ever as next in line.