Kate's Rock Rushes Her Way: REBECCA ENGLISH'S Deeply Personal Portrait of Prince William and Why She Knows He'll Bend Heaven and Earth to Support His Wife

We expect a lot from our royal family, and rightly so.

They occupy an extraordinary position in our national life, one that comes with many privileges (and generous financial rewards).

That's why many of us expect to be the embodiment of the nation's 'keep calm and carry on' mantra, the last vestige of that British stiff upper lip.

But every now and then something happens that reminds us that they're people, too—and that behind the scenes they may be facing the same challenges as the rest of us.

Wednesday's news that not one, but two of our senior royals have serious health problems requiring hospital treatment came as a shock.

Who would have thought when he saw the king smiling broadly as he drove himself and his wife to church on Sunday that he was concerned enough about his health to seek immediate medical advice.

Or that on the same day he was told to scale back royal duties and prepare for surgery for an enlarged prostate next week, His Majesty would break with protocol and allow his diagnoses to be made known in the hope that this might encourage other men to do the same. self checked out.

I'm told he's “really” in a good place, taking a pragmatic approach to his diagnosis and keeping up with his paperwork ahead of his surgery next week.

Even more worrying is the Princess of Wales who, after undergoing so-called 'abdominal surgery', will have to spend two weeks in hospital and recover for up to three months.

Kensington Palace has said it is her wish to keep further details about her condition private (although they have confirmed it is not cancer), but given her recovery time this is clearly significant.

Last week I was with her husband, Prince William, as he surprised motor neurone disease campaigners and former rugby league professionals Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield with their CBEs.

He traveled to Leeds to personally present them with their honors as Rob, who – along with his friend Kevin – has courageously used his diagnosis of the incurable, life-shortening condition to raise millions of pounds to support fellow sufferers and fund research.

As always, William was charming, compassionate and engaging, and made sure that Rob – who is in a wheelchair and can only communicate through an eye-operated computer aid – was at the center of events.

Even though Rob was unable to verbally join in on the banter, the future king even joked with him about a prank the former player once pulled with a Jaffa cake and a pair of Calvin Kleins (I won't say more than that) which caused Rob to break. in a heartwarming, still mischievous grin.

It was a very emotional event and, without going into details, I found it very moving.

At the end of the engagement, I left the room in tears to give William some alone time with the families.

When he left a few minutes later, he had clearly noticed my sadness and, I think, realized why. He looked at me, smiled kindly and nodded his head. “Are you okay, Rebecca?”

There was no indication that anything unusual was going on behind the scenes of his own life.

That makes the reaction of some to his decision to empty his diary to stand at his wife's bedside and support their three young children extremely shameful.

Social media has been awash with trolls – even those with the letters Dr in front of their names – decrying his actions.

One (I won't name the person as I fear he or she will just enjoy the publicity) highlighted an article on MailOnline and wrote: 'Should we clap for him? The PR spin to desperately make Prince William seem like a devoted husband and father who juggles childcare with caring, while he has an army of people supporting him and no financial worries about quitting work to stay home, is so tone deaf.”

Beyond hateful.

Republic, the anti-monarchist pressure group that has spent the past year trying to convince the public that it is a credible political force, has also seized on the issue with glee, posting: “They could all be sick with measles for six months. and still fit in more appointments than last year', and 'Man visits woman in hospital. Huge if true'.

William would be the last to encourage a pity party, but it's worth pointing out that wealth doesn't mean your wife or children need you any less.

The heir to the throne has long made it clear that his three young children are his first priority in life.

Sure, he's lucky that he can afford to take time off work, but it takes a particularly bitter individual to begrudge him that.

William has always enjoyed being a hands-on dad, he cooks (not brilliantly, but he does cook), cheers them on from the sidelines and is there to run the school and wipe their tears.

As my colleague Robert Hardman writes in his excellent new royal biography: 'In his view, it is not far removed from the most important job he has: raising the next king but one.'

Fortunately, he has a close support network around him, especially Catherine's parents, Michael and Carole Middleton, who are extremely hands-on grandparents, and their nanny Maria.

But nothing makes up for a father's love and although he never disappoints the many charities and organizations he supports, he wants to be there for George, Charlotte and Louis, as well as his wife.

There's a little vignette that I think shows why William's approach to his family is non-negotiable.

In 2012 we were in the Solomon Islands during his and Catherine's tour of the South Pacific.

A few days earlier, the couple had been rocked after a French magazine published illegal photos of the princess sunbathing topless during a private holiday.

To say William cooked was an understatement.

One evening there was a reception for international and local media and we had been instructed not to report the incident under any circumstances.

When it was my turn to talk to him, I had no choice but to address the elephant in the room – it felt disingenuous not to – and I told him how sorry I was for what had happened, adding cheekily admits that my partner would have done that. decked out everyone who took similar photos.

William made it clear that while that was a hugely attractive option for him in his current state of mind, he would let the courts take their course.

What upset him most, he said, was that when he proposed to Catherine, he promised her parents that he would take care of her.

He knew better than anyone the personal sacrifices she made to be with the man she loved.

And by allowing all this to happen, he felt like he had let them down.

That's why I know he will bend heaven and earth to be by her side now and do the best for their little family.

No matter how long it takes.