King Charles has only been King since 2023, but he knows that his days as king are numbered, and reportedly, he’s already discussing plans for when his eldest son, Prince William, will take the throne and be crowned King.

In 2024, King Charles has had to come to terms with the fact that he is not able to do everything that he wanted to do as king due to his physical limitations. He has been undergoing cancer treatments, and as he focuses on his treatments and recovery, William has had to step up and attend events on his father’s behalf.

Meanwhile, William’s wife, Kate Middleton, who is next in line to be Queen, has had quite an eventful 2024. Like the King, she has also been undergoing cancer treatments, and this has reportedly caused an unlikely bond between father-in-law and daughter-in-law.

The New York Post reports that Charles and Kate recently had a private meeting to discuss succession plans. Since the meeting was private, we do not know exactly what was discussed, but the King is reportedly prepared to pass on the crown sooner than he originally expected.

Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told PEOPLE, “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.”

Bedell Smith 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.”

Royal biographer Robert Hardman explained, “We are being encouraged not to look at this as a chapter that’s over and then it’s back to normal, because cancer doesn’t work like that. The details remain private, but there’s no sense of trying to gloss over the reality that it’s an unpredictable disease.”

One example of a way William is filling in for his father is that fact that William joined other world leaders at the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, something his dad, as King, should’ve attended instead.

President-elect Donald Trump was also at the event, and he had a chance to chat with William while they were there. Trump later said, “I asked him about his wife, and he said she’s doing well. And I asked him about his father, and his father is fighting very hard, and he loves his father, and he loves his wife, so it was sad.”

A royal source explained that family is the top priority right now. “Life-threatening illnesses bring a reconsideration of priorities. She and William have always made it clear that family is the most important thing.”

Do you think Charles will make a full recovery? How soon do you think it will be before William becomes King?