A former royal aide has spoken on TV about Prince William’s devastation after receiving news of cancer diagnoses for his wife Kate Middleton and father King Charles, a few weeks apart.
The Sun newspaper reports that Jason Knauf was speaking to Australian current affairs show 60 Minutes Australia when he shared taking an emotional phone call from William, recalling:
“Within a couple of weeks if you’re Prince William, you find out that both your wife and your father have cancer.
“I couldn’t believe it. It was awful, absolutely awful. It’s the lowest I’ve ever seen him.”
Knauf, who previously worked for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as well as Kate and William, was recognised in the New Year’s Honours list in 2023 for his service to the monarchy.
He was previously responsible for raising concerns in 2018 about the treatment by Meghan Markle towards the team’s staff. Buckingham Palace conducted an internal inquiry, the results of which have never been made public.
Knauf said of the scrutiny he received following his intervention and the leak of his email about events, told 60 Minutes Australia:
“I think it, it’s tough, but it’s probably quite good. You know someone who has been helping other people through how to deal with the public eye. You probably had to take your own medicine sometimes.”
Following his work for Kate and William, Knauf was later made chief executive of the Royal Foundation, before quitting in 2021.