EXCLUSIVE: Radar Reveals How it Took a Brutal Health Battle to Reignite Princess Kate and William's Passion After They Were Rocked by Affair Rumor
Kate Middleton and Prince William are said to be closer than ever following her scary health battle.
Jan. 9 2026, Published 4:45 p.m. ET
Kate Middleton has emerged from a life-threatening cancer battle with her marriage to Prince William not only intact but strengthened, with royal watchers telling RadarOnline.com the crisis forced the couple to confront years of rumors and rediscover their emotional bond after whispers of infidelity threatened to overshadow their private life.
Middleton, the Princess of Wales, 43, was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in March 2024 and underwent preventative chemotherapy before announcing in September that she was cancer-free.
Middleton has emerged from cancer treatment with her marriage stronger than ever, according to sources.
In January 2025, she confirmed the disease was in remission. During that period, she and her husband, William, also 43, retreated from public life, prompting renewed speculation about the state of their marriage.
The couple, who began dating in 2002, married in 2011 and share three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, have been under near-constant scrutiny since unsubstantiated affair rumors first surfaced in 2019.
One royal source said Middleton's cancer battle has now proved pivotal in her relationship with William.
They added: "For a period, there was persistent speculation that William and Kate's relationship was not as smooth or idyllic as it appeared in public."
They have been dogged by rumors William has been unfaithful, but they are now back on track in a big way.
'It Drew Them Back Together'
The health crisis has eclipsed years of infidelity rumors surrounding the couple.
The insider also stressed how Middleton's illness shifted priorities.
They added: "William has a reputation for being hot-tempered at times, while Kate has often acted as the steadying influence. But once she was diagnosed and the possibility of losing her became real, it drew them back together."
That shift explained choices like moving away from palace life and prioritizing a quieter home, as they try to protect a more ordinary family existence. "But it has taken Kate's cancer fight to light their fire again."
Sources close to the couple say the ordeal stripped away other distractions, such as feuds ripping apart the royal family, and forced a reset.
Another source said, "The moment Kate's health was seriously at risk, it fundamentally altered William's outlook. All the background chatter and distractions faded when the focus became her well-being."
An insider added: "Speculation about William's faithfulness didn't vanish immediately, but the health scare shifted the dynamic between them. They have now become far more reliant on one another than they had been in a long time."
Affair Details Revealed
The couple retreated from public life to protect their family during treatment.
The pair's move away from Adelaide Cottage in Windsor in November 2025 to Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park was seen by royal observers as symbolic.
Adelaide Cottage had been associated with a period of upheaval that included the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 and King Charles III's cancer diagnosis in early 2024, just weeks before Middleton revealed her own illness.
A palace aide told us, "Adelaide Cottage had become closely associated with some very difficult memories. Given everything they went through there, it makes complete sense that they would want a fresh start somewhere new."
The backdrop to the pair's renewed closeness was a persistent rumor William had an affair with Rose Hanbury, 41, a former friend of Kate's.
The allegation, first reported by a US tabloid in 2019, has never been substantiated. Rose, the Marchioness of Cholmondeley, later denied the claims through her lawyers, who said: "The rumors are completely false."
Her legal team also took action after jokes about the allegation were made on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Kate Middleton’s Crisis Sparks Royal Reset
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Royal watchers said the royal pair returned stronger after surviving a life-altering crisis together.
Online speculation intensified in early 2024 during Middleton's absence from public view and the release of an edited Mother's Day photograph, fueling conspiracy theories about her and William's marriage and her health status.
Those claims collapsed after Middleton disclosed her cancer diagnosis in a video message.
Friends of the couple say the experience has recalibrated their relationship.
One source said, "Kate's illness forced a complete reset. All the speculation, conspiracy talk, and long-running affair rumors suddenly felt meaningless when her survival was the priority.
"What followed was a relationship that appears more intentional and fiercely guarded."
"Since then, William and Kate have returned to public duties cautiously, projecting unity born not out of image management, but out of having come through something genuinely life-altering together," the insider added.
