Naga Munchetty briefly halted the BBC Breakfast programme on Friday morning to offer a cautionary message before airing a segment featuring Prince William.

Charlie Stayt initiated the conversation by saying: “The time now is seven minutes past eight, and Naga, you have some comments from Prince William about the challenges, the personal challenges he has been facing.”

Naga then disclosed: “Absolutely. The Prince of Wales has said that the past year has probably been the hardest of his life.”

Speaking candidly to journalists after concluding a visit to South Africa, Prince William addressed the difficulty of handling the dual cancer diagnoses of his wife and father, terming the experience as “dreadful.”

Before broadcasting the piece by Meghan Owen, which contained rapidly changing visuals, Naga advised viewers: “I should warn you that this report from Meghan Owen has some flashing images,” reports the Express.

When Prince William graced the screen, Meghan’s voiceover accompanied the footage: “All smiles on camera, Prince William on a solo trip to promote the Earthshot Prize in South Africa.

“But thousands of miles away, he told the BBC he was hopeful that the Princess of Wales, recovering from cancer back home, was watching.”

Prince William then assured the camera about his wife: “She is doing really well, thanks, and hopefully, she is watching tonight and cheering me on.”

Acknowledging the efforts throughout the tumultuous year, he concluded: “But she has been amazing this whole year, and I know she’d be really keen on seeing the success.”

Meghan continued: “While he put on a brave face in public, on his way home from Cape Town, he told reporters, ‘It has probably been the hardest year of my life. So trying to keep everything on track has been difficult’.”

The Prince of Wales went on to praise his wife and father, saying he was proud of them for “handling the things that they have done.”

He added: “But from a personal family point of view, it has been brutal.”

In February, the Palace announced King Charles had cancer and would begin treatment, and then in March, the Princess of Wales confirmed she was also undergoing treatment.

BBC Breakfast airs daily at 6am on BBC One.