There is never a good time to find out a parent has cancer. It's a particularly difficult moment for Prince William.
His father's cancer diagnosis comes as the heir to the British throne was already navigating a health scare at home. It was only last month that his wife Catherine had abdominal surgery that will sideline her for several months.
Little is known about the Princess of Wales' procedure, but her lengthy recovery signals a serious operation. With three young children to care for, William's diary was also cleared. His priority abundantly clear: Family comes first.
With Charles' candid disclosure, those plans are evolving. William is now unexpectedly needed to pick up some of his father's public-facing responsibilities, given he's the next-in-line. He's been thrust into a role that not too long ago Charles was doing for the late Queen Elizabeth II - stepping in as needed while the monarch's temporarily unavailable.
The demands of being the immediate heir saw William make a partial return to royal duties on Wednesday after a three-week absence. He kicked things off by hosting an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Dressed in his RAF uniform, he smiled warmly, charming guests while doling out honors on his father's behalf.
The prince has "an unwavering commitment to duty and service," a royal source told CNN, adding that "investitures are an important part of his royal role, celebrating people up and down the country doing incredible things for their communities."
Later, he attended a gala dinner in central London as the patron of the London Air Ambulance, where he publicly addressed the royal double health scare for the first time.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days. It means a great deal to us all," William said.
He then quipped: "It's fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather 'medical' focus. So, I thought I'd come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all."