When Prince William first heard about his wife’s cancer diagnosis the news “wobbled him” claims one royal expert, yet even despite his worries he was able to ‘step up to the plate’ for his family

When the news of Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis was first revealed earlier this year, like any loving husband, Prince William was understandably ‘devastated’, particularly as the worrying health news came just weeks after his own father King Charles had revealed his own battle with the illness. Yet rather than sink into a wave of despair or anxiety, instead the future King steeled his nerve to support both of his loved ones amid their health struggles – and take on a new role in the family in the process.

Opening up on what exactly the news meant to Prince William, royal author Robert Jobson told Us Weekly : “It was devastating for him.” Giving his take on how the news may have been received, Jobson went on to imagine that William immediately felt “a lump in [his] throat” or “the empty feeling in his stomach” when his wife’s diagnosis was revealed.

“It wobbled him,” the author continued. “There’s no doubt about that.”

Yet while the news may have shaken William to his core, the same couldn’t be said for Kate, who Jobson claims remained “very stoic” in the face of such adversity, as did Charles, as they both told the future monarch: “We need you now to stand up to the plate.”