They might not be a couple famed for their public displays of affection, but after the intensity of the Princess of Wales’s and King Charles III’s cancer battles, it has now been revealed that Kate Middleton and Prince William are, in fact, in a new phase of their lives.
In the couple’s most recent appearances, the pair has made no secret of their affection for each other, from sharing a romantic photograph to mark Valentine’s Day on Instagram to holding hands on a recent visit to Wales.
The change in how they showcase their love publicly is very much a reflection of where they are now as partners. Speaking to People, royal biographer Ingrid Seward said, “They are happy for people to see them be touchy-feely.”
“They’re in a different phase of their life now. William is very protective and very proud of her for coming through this and carrying on with her life,” Seward added.
The revelation follows a year of intense pressure for the couple. In February 2024, during surgery for a benign enlarged prostate, King Charles received a cancer diagnosis. One month later, the Princess of Wales announced her own cancer diagnosis.
Since announcing this January that she’s in remission, the princess has been slowly returning to royal duties, most recently attending the Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day Parade in London on March 17.
Kate was named honorary colonel of the Irish Guards in 2022, a role she inherited from Prince William after King Charles III ascended to the throne.
