Prince William and Kate Middleton prepare for the death of King Charles III amid his battle with cancer

It looks as though Prince William and Kate Middleton are making contingency plans should King Charles’ health issues continue.

Back in September Kate announced that she had completed her chemotherapy treatment, adding that she was “looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months.”

As her recovery continues, she and William have been taking on more royal responsibilities, especially since King Charles recently paused his own treatment in order to tour Australia.

Nevertheless, a source says things aren’t going well behind the scenes, and as a result William and Kate are making preparations for when they take over.

“It’s not a subject that people really talk about very openly, but everyone is aware that Charles’ health is failing,” the source told In Touch.

“The last thing Kate and William want to do is to put a case forward for Charles to abdicate. They want him to go on as long as he physically wants to.

“But there is that horrible reality of the fact he’s not getting any younger, and his condition means that the time to step up will be sooner rather than later in the years ahead.”

Important for William and Kate to embrace role
With Prince Harry and wife Meghan Markle on the outside looking in after their decision to step back from royal duties, there is even more pressure for William and Kate to step up to their roles.

So far they’ve done that, with Charles more than impressed with their work.

“The reality is they have to prepare themselves for that eventuality and brace themselves to deal with it, both mentally and in practice,” the insider says.

“This is becoming more and more at the forefront of their minds. And Charles couldn’t be happier knowing that his legacy will eventually be taken over by them.”