Kate Middleton and Prince William might find themselves stepping into the roles of king and queen sooner than they expected as King Charles continues his battle with cancer, according to a royal biographer.

“Although the King is carrying out his duties with typical determination, he has had to accept limitations during his cancer treatment,” Sally Bedell Smith shared with People in an article published on Wednesday.

“As a result, William has been taking on more responsibilities, and he and Kate have been preparing for their future roles sooner than they would have expected,” Smith added.

In May 2023, King Charles, at the age of 76, was officially crowned. However, less than a year later, in February 2024, he revealed that he had been diagnosed with an unspecified type of cancer following what was described as a “routine hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement.”

An insider shared with the outlet, “there’s a sense of calm before the storm” when it comes to the Prince and Princess of Wales.

“They are next in line for the biggest job of their lives, and of course, Kate’s health has taken priority, but it’s also allowed everyone to take a step back and figure out what’s important right now.”

Earlier this month, Prince William offered a clear sign of his preparation for his future responsibilities when he represented his father at the official reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Meanwhile, it has been a challenging year for the 42-year-old Princess of Wales.