Prince William and Kate Middleton are moving towards a new era in their relationship, according to a royal insider.

After completing cancer treatment in September 2024 and revealing she’s officially in remission in January, Kate has gladly returned to public duties—including with recent appearances at Trooping the Colour and Garter Day. With her cancer behind them, the couple is reportedly thinking ahead to their upcoming roles as King and Queen.

“There are some major shifts coming behind the scenes,” a friend told People about the couple’s new era. William and Kate are reportedly hyper-focused on building a trusted team of top advisers as they prepare for the monarchy. “They are really finessing what works and what doesn’t,” the friend added.

While Kate continues to heal, she and William have been focused on assessing how to prioritize their young family while preparing to take the throne. “They were able to step back and reassess their priorities in all aspects of their lives,” the couple’s friend claimed.

Kate’s time away from public duties reportedly also made it clear to the couple how essential she is to the royal family. Before revealing her diagnosis, Kate’s absence generated intense scrutiny and speculation about the couple’s relationship, including allegations that William had been unfaithful.

Kate has kept her appearances to a minimum since recovering, which has only made her outings more impactful.

“She was already the only working royal left with any special pulling power. Now her scarcity means that it has risen,” King Charles III biographer Catherine Mayer said. “She is the one who generates excitement. For her, less is actually more.”

This may signal William and Kate’s efforts to transition the British Royal Family back to a quieter, less forward-facing role, similar to the air of mystery William’s late-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, cultivated around herself.

In the past year, William has shown several signs that he is trying to get some distance from his father’s vision of the monarchy, including by hiring a separate legal team earlier this year. He also opened up about his planned approach in a November 2024 interview with the BBC. “I can only describe what I’m trying to do, and that’s I’m trying to do it differently and I’m trying to do it for my generation,” he said.

“And to give you more of an understanding around it,” he added. “I’m doing it with maybe a smaller ‘R’ in the royal, if you like, that’s maybe a better way of saying it.”

Before you go, click here to see more photos of Prince William & Kate Middleton through the years.