Annus horribilis

Prince's hell as father and wife battled cancer

- RUSSELL MYERS

PRINCE William has opened up about the King and Princess of Wales being diagnosed with cancer, describing the year as "the hardest in my life".

In a searingly honest interview during a solo visit to South Africa, William also spoke of his pride in his father, Charles, 74, and his wife, Kate, 42, for the bravery they have shown throughout their ordeal.

The future king said of his annus horribilis - which is Latin for terrible year: "Honestly, it's been dreadful. It's probably been the hardest year in my life. So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.

"But I'm so proud of my wife, I'm proud of my father, for handling the things that they have done.

But from a personal family point of view, it's been brutal." The late Queen branded 1992 an annus horribilis after the royal family suffered a series of setbacks including a fire at Windsor Castle.

This year, Charles went to hospital with an enlarged prostate, spending three nights at The London Clinic in January, while Kate spent nearly two weeks there after abdominal surgery.

Buckingham Palace announced on February 5 the monarch had a form of cancer, while the princess was diagnosed just days later, although she did not share the news until late March.