Family or duty? This year Prince William proved he's perfectly capable of doing both

This was supposed to be the year Prince William proved himself as heir apparent to the British throne, following King Charles' coronation in May 2023.

Instead, he's spent the last 12 months demonstrating that he's capable of something royals in his position have struggled with for centuries: balancing duty and family.

READ MORE: Prince William's life in pictures: The boy who was born to be King

There is a history of monarchs and heirs in the British royal family putting their royal responsibilities before their children, who are often raised with the support of nannies and other staff.

King Charles III was just four years old, his sister Princess Anne even younger when Queen Elizabeth II took the throne in 1952 and left a mother-shaped hole in their childhoods.

"When Elizabeth became Queen on the death of her father, her dedication to her duties meant even less time for her children," historian Sally Bedell-Smith wrote in her biography of the King.

"She relied increasingly on her husband to make the major family decisions and she depended on the nannies to supervise the daily lives."

That's not to say the Queen had a poor relationship with them or her other two children, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, but she wasn't particularly present when they were children, especially at the start of her reign.

Thirty years later, the King's own children felt that same distance from their father, who was heir apparent to the British throne and has always had many pressing royal duties.

Prince Harry wrote in his memoir Spare that there were "barriers" between himself and William and their father, due in part to the King being "an older dad", though he was just 33 when William was born.

"He wasn't the kind of father who played endless rounds of tag, or tossed a ball until long after dark," Harry wrote.

"Long before we were ready, he stopped engaging in that kind of physical fun. He just didn't have the enthusiasm."

Again, His Majesty's children understood he had a duty to the crown and as adults they developed a much closer relationship with him - at least in William's case.

The Prince of Wales has been an incredibly hands-on dad from the start, but the last 12 months have put more pressure on him than ever before as he juggles his responsibilities to the King, his country, and his sick wife and children.

No one could have anticipated the King would be diagnosed with cancer just months into his reign, nor would anyone have believed Catherine, the Princess of Wales would receive a diagnosis of her own around the same time.

READ MORE: How William is proving 'the future of the monarchy is in safe hands'

The double diagnosis put William in a uniquely difficult position, as he was expected to step in for the King as his heir apparent, and step up for his family as a husband and father.

He could have put duty first and thrown himself into royal work, stepping into his father's shoes for dozens of public engagements.

He could have put family first and retreated from the public eye entirely, focused only on Catherine and their three children, Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

Instead, William did the impossible and found a way to balance both.

He stepped up at events his father couldn't make it to, and cleared his diary of less pressing engagements to be at home with his family.

He supported his father when the King returned to work in April, and stood at Catherine's side when she made her first public appearance in six months at Trooping the Colour.

Author George R.R. Martin once wrote that "love is the death of duty", but William has spent the last 12 months proving that the two can coexist.

READ MORE: Royal children share first social media post for Father's Day

If anything, his love for his wife, children and dear father has been at the heart of his royal duties recently, as he steps in when the King cannot and steps back when his family need him.

Today marks the future king's 42nd birthday and as Dickie Arbiter once wrote for 9honey, with him "the future of the monarchy is in safe hands".

FOLLOW US ON WHATSAPP HERE: Stay across all the latest in celebrity, lifestyle and opinion via our WhatsApp channel. No comments, no algorithm and nobody can see your private details.