Nearly a year after Kate Middleton revealed her cancer diagnosis, a former aide to Prince William has opened up about the “awful” phone call he received in the wake of the news.

Jason Knauf, who worked for the Prince and Princess of Wales until 2021, shared his thoughts during an interview on 60 Minutes Australia on Sunday (February 23). He reflected on Kate’s diagnosis and how William handled the difficult period.

According to Knauf, the 42-year-old Prince had to process both his wife’s health battle and his father, King Charles III’s, cancer diagnosis in the span of just a few weeks.

Buckingham Palace had first shared news of the King’s illness in February of the previous year, releasing a statement that read: “During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.”

A month later, after widespread concern over her absence from public life for several months, Kate, 43, shared that she, too, had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing treatment.

“It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I’ve had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful,” she said in an emotional statement at the time.

Naturally, many royal watchers worried about how these health struggles were affecting Prince William.

Reflecting on the situation during an interview, Knauf remarked, “If you’re Prince William, you find out that both your wife and your father have cancer…” He admitted, “I mean, I couldn’t believe it.”

Recalling a phone call he had with William after Kate’s diagnosis, the former aide described the moment as “awful, absolutely awful.”

“It’s the lowest I’ve ever seen him,” he added.