William and Kate preparing for future roles sooner than planned: 'Calm before the storm'

The Prince and Princess of Wales are preparing for their future roles "sooner than they would have expected" according to royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith.

She tells PEOPLE King Charles' cancer battle means Prince William and Kate, both 42, may ascend the British throne earlier than originally planned.

"Although the King is carrying out his duties with typical determination, he has had to accept limitations during his cancer treatment," Bendell Smith tells PEOPLE.

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"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."

She described "a sense of calm before the storm."

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"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."

Both King Charles and the Princess of Wales have been battling cancer in 2024, with Kate sharing she had completed treatment in September and said she would gradually return to full duties.

The royal hosted her annual Christmas carols at Westminster Abbey on December 6 and is expected to join the royal family for their traditional Sandringham walk to and from church on Christmas Day.

King Charles' own treatment reportedly continues however at 76 years of age, it is expected that his recovery will take longer.

Neither has disclosed the type of cancer they were diagnosed with.

While transition plans are much planned for and discussed in the British royal family as they are inevitable, Charles' health battle will have necessitated further discussions about possible timelines.

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It isn't expected that King Charles will abdicate to make way for the Prince and Princess of Wales, as we saw in Denmark when Queen Margarethe abdicated following a period of ill health, leaving son Frederik and his wife Mary to become King and Queen of Denmark earlier this year.

ITV's royal editor Chris Ship previously told 9honey he doesn't think this is going to happen in the UK, explaining "it would only happen if the King himself was just unable to do any public events, was not able to fulfil the role of head of state."

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"And even then he might not abdicate, we might have a regency in which he would step back and Prince William would be a King in all but name," Ship explained.

"William and Kate have only really been the Prince and Princess of Wales for two years and suddenly the throne that they always knew was coming their way – in fact, I should say thrones because it will be a King and a Queen in the case of William and Kate – suddenly it looks a lot closer than it did before," Ship said.

For now, the Prince and Princess of Wales are focusing on their young family. The royal couple are parents to Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

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