Prince William Proves He Isn’t Afraid to Be Vulnerable In New Message: ‘We’re in a New Era’

<p id="par-1_67">The royal family never used to be the type of family that would show too much emotion. They never had a ton of public displays of affection, spoke out about problems or conflicts, or let anyone truly know what they were thinking. Even when Kate Middleton and King Charles were <a href=" diagnosed with cancer</a> in the same year, little was said about how each person was doing.</p>

<p id="par-2_42">Now, though, <a href=" William</a> appears to be shifting the narrative a bit. The prince just sent a heartfelt message to his wife on her birthday, and it one expert believes it is the start of a “new era” for the royal family.</p>

<figure class="wp-block-image size-full" id="emb-1"><img decoding="async" src=" alt="Prince William and Kate Middleton" class="wp-image-3761339"><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Prince William and Kate Middleton | Chris Jackson/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-prince-william-has-become-a-little-more-open-about-his-emotions">Prince William has become a little more open about his emotions</h2>

<p id="par-3_61">While Kate was undergoing chemotherapy last year, very little was said about how she was doing. When asked, William would often just say that <a href=" princess was doing well</a>. Then, in an interview while on a trip to Africa late last year, William opened up a little more; he said it had been a “brutal” year for him and his family.</p>

<p id="par-4_64">When Kate’s birthday came on January 9, William wrote her a heartfelt <a href=" message, opening up and getting more vulnerable about the family’s love for her. “To the most incredible wife and mother. The strength you’ve shown over the last year has been remarkable … We love you,” part of the caption read, and it was signed “W,” meaning it was written by William.</p>

<p id="par-5_94">Body language expert Darren Stanton, speaking for <a href=" said that this was a “new era” for William. “For someone to make such an overt display of public affection, whether it’s physical or a statement on social media, it usually means they are confident to speak this openly behind closed doors,” Stanton said, via <a href=" “This is not the behavior we’ve typically seen from older royals, but it shows we’re in a new era. William clearly loves his wife, is forging his own path as the future king, and isn’t afraid to show his emotions.”</p>

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<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-kate-middleton-s-royal-duties-might-look-different-in-2025">Kate Middleton’s royal duties might look different in 2025</h2>

<p id="par-6_57">Prior to Kate’s diagnosis, she was taking on a royal engagement every couple of days. But there will likely be a shift in how much she appears in the public now that she is cancer-free. The princess has put a major focus on her health and her personal life, mostly being a mother to her three children.</p>

<p id="par-7_40">After going through such a life-changing experience, experts believe Kate will <a href=" longer be in public</a> multiple times per week for royal engagements. Rather, she’ll take them with less frequency and be home to spend more time with her children.</p>