Kate Middleton 'grappling with becoming Queen sooner than anticipated'

ok.co.uk:

A royal insider has revealed that King Charles' battle with cancer has had a significant impact on Kensington Palace, speeding up the preparations for Prince William's future reign.

Despite the King's positive attitude at the age of 76 following his treatment and recovery, it appears that the Princess of Wales is coming to terms with the possibility of becoming Queen earlier than expected, having faced her own health scare in the past year.

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told People Magazine: "Although the King is carrying out his duties with typical determination, he has had to accept limitations during his cancer treatment.

As a result William has been taking on more responsibilities, and he and Kate have been preparing for their future roles sooner than they would have expected." A palace source added: "There's a sense of calm before the storm.They are next in line for the biggest job of their lives, and of course, Kate's health has taken priority, but it's also allowed everyone to take a step back and figure out what's important right now." Meanwhile, US magazine reports suggest that behind-the-scenes plans for the couple's eventual succession are quietly progressing, highlighting that both William and Kate are "increasingly aware" of their looming duties.