Why Princes William and Harry will have to ‘be honest’ about King Charles’ condition to their children

King Charles’ cancer diagnosis, which was revealed this week during a recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, will undoubtedly shock the royal family.

The King has delayed his public engagements and instituted a regimen of consistent medical treatments, according to the palace. “Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.”

Following his wife Princess Kate’s abdominal surgery, Prince William, the eldest son of Charles, is set to resume his royal duties this week. Meanwhile, Prince Harry, the youngest son of Charles, has flown in from Los Angeles to visit his father in London.

It’s possible that dads William and Harry, along with their respective spouses Kate and Meghan, had to explain the King’s health issues to their kids during this worrying time. It could be difficult for the kids to comprehend and process the news that their grandfather is gravely ill.

HI! asked Alicia Eaton, author of First Aid for your Child’s Mind and a child psychotherapist and behavior change therapist, for advice on how to discuss cancer with kids in the family.

George, who is ten, Charlotte, who is eight, and Louis, who is five, are the children of Prince William and Princess Kate. In what way should the royal bring up the topic with them?

Alicia makes the following suggestion: “Kate and William should both be involved in breaking the news to the kids. Pick a calm, cozy spot where you can talk privately without being bothered.” When dealing with children of different ages, it’s sometimes preferable to inform older siblings first and ask for their assistance in informing and supporting younger siblings.”

Archie, age four, and Lilibet, age two, are the children of Prince Harry and his spouse, Meghan. Are they too young to be aware of their grandmother’s illness?

“It’s important to be honest even with young children, and it will be hard for Harry to keep this a secret from his own children, so better that he tells Archie in a way that’s mindful of his emotional capacity,” Alicia says.

“He may not be able to absorb all the details in this initial conversation and there will be time to give more details in bite-sized chunks.”

Alicia advises against using an excessive amount of medical jargon and to try to make your explanation age-appropriate. “Simple metaphors and analogies can be really useful to explain the concept of cancer,” she suggests.

For instance, you may liken cancer cells to sick cells that require specialized care or’magic medicine’ in order to recover.

“Always be ready to respond to inquiries. Tell the truth if you don’t know the answer. Saying “that’s a good question” is one option. Thank you for asking; I’m not sure I know the answer to that one. I’ll inquire and report back to you.”

If a parent is concerned about a family member, what can they do to support their child?

According to Alicia, you should think about getting the child involved in simple caregiving tasks like making get-well cards or making a get-well video message, depending on their age. This can give them a sense of community and demonstrate how they can make a significant difference in the grandparents’ well-being.

Keep an eye on your child’s emotional health. Keep an eye on the situation and get professional help if you observe any behavioral changes, such as unexplained angry outbursts, nightmares, bedwetting, or eating problems.”