Prince William and Kate’s private struggle: ‘Going through hell’

William put on a brave face as he returned to public duties without his wife – but behind closed doors, the pair is reportedly struggling.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are reportedly “going through hell” as they struggle to cope with Kate’s cancer diagnosis.

According to designer Amaia Arrieta, a friend of the couple who has been styling their family for more than a decade, it’s been a difficult road since they received the news.

“I’m heartbroken at the moment,” Arrieta told the UK’s Telegraph. “I think they are going through hell.”

She added: “I hope they will be back. It’s really personal.”

The couple is ‘going through hell’, according to a designer friend of their family’s. Picture: Jane Barlow/Pool/AFP

Arrieta’s comments came just days after Prince William shared a rare – and brief – update on his wife and family while undertaking official engagements in England’s north east.

“Do you mind if I ask how your wife and children are?” a royal fan asked William outside the James’s Place charity in Newcastle, to which he replied: “We’re all doing well, thank you.”

“And obviously Catherine?” the woman pressed, prompting William to answer again: “We’re all doing well.”

Kate’s announcement that she had been diagnosed with cancer sent shockwaves around the world in March.

William was asked about Kate earlier this week. Picture: Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

The world found out about Kate’s diagnosis in March. Picture: Kensington Palace/BBC

In a two-minute video, she revealed that she was in the “early stages” of preventive chemotherapy treatment after the disease was discovered during an operation targeting a separate issue.

“In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous. The surgery was successful, however, tests after the operation found cancer had been present,” Kate explained.

“My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventive chemotherapy and I’m now in the early stages of that treatment.”

Kate added that the news had come as a “huge shock”.

“William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family. As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment. But most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte, and Louis in a way that’s appropriate for them and to reassure them that I’m going to be okay.

“As I’ve said to them, I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal in my mind, body, and spirits.”