Breaking News: Prince William appears upbeat and engaged as he resumes public duties after the Princess of Wales’s cancer diagnosis – but is probably being more cautious about what he shares about his life and challenges at the moment.

Royal life is always a bit of a performance – and at the moment you can’t help but think how much Prince William is having to put on a brave face.

He seemed nothing but upbeat and engaged as he carried out visits in the Midlands on Thursday, no doubt helped by a very welcoming crowd

Prince William, however, is probably being more cautious about what he shares about his own life and challenges at the moment, as he tries to balance his public role with protecting his family’s privacy.

Professor Richard Simcock, chief medical officer at Macmillan Cancer Support, told Sky News that in recent years the psychological impact of a cancer diagnosis has finally been taken more seriously, as well as the difficult juggle those supporting their loved ones face, and acknowledged William may also be finding it tough.

“I don’t think it matters who you are,” he said.

“Having cancer is a very human, emotional, traumatising experience and it affects both the person with the cancer, but the people affected by cancer are the people all around them. And it can be an enormous burden the fear of whether the cancer treatment will be successful, the strain of keeping family life going.”