After revealing that the past 12 months have been the toughest in his life, Prince William has revealed his plans for a major royal shake-up and his one wish for Kate after cancer treatment

Prince William has spoken of his hope that the Princess of Wales will be well enough to join him on royal tours next year, as he looks towards carving a new role at the heart of the monarchy.

The Prince of Wales said he was looking forward to getting back to royal duties with his wife by his side, after a “brutal” year where the princess and his father the King were both diagnosed with cancer. In a move which will hearten the nation, he declared: “hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up.”

In a wide ranging interview with the UK media travelling with him in Cape Town last week, William said he wanted to evolve his role as heir to the throne with a focus on “helping people”. William, 42, discussed his desire to work on ambitious projects – such as his Earthshot Prize environmental awards which were hosted last week in South Africa, as well as his landmark homelessness project launched last year, and “do it differently for my generation”. He also told of his desire to provide “some more empathetic leadership around the world.”

During the week taking in a variety of engagements in Cape Town for his environmental awards, now in its fourth year, he said he hoped his three children – George, 11, Charlotte, nine and Louis, five – would be “proud” of him. While they have accompanied their parents on a select few, more intimate public duties this year, the prince said his priority would be to allow them to concentrate on their schooling and growing up as they prepare for any royal roles.

He said: “Family-wise, you have to wait a little bit longer because obviously they’re at school and I think that takes priority over everything else. But I think hopefully Catherine will be doing a bit more next year, so we’ll have some more trips maybe lined up.”

William and Kate’s last two planned tours, to visit British troops undertaking winter training in Latvia last February and a trip to Italy in the Spring were both cancelled due to the Princess’ health. The King and Queen will now undertake a tour to Italy next spring as the monarch readies himself to return to a “full programme” of events in 2025.

But as he prepares for a fuller programme of his own, William said in one of his most candid interviews ever he wants to “make lives better” for the less fortunate in society. On taking on the Prince of Wales role, a position his father Charles held for more than 50 years, William said he hoped to use his platform for good to improve the lives of others. He added: “I sit here right now doing Earthshot and doing all the projects I’m doing, like Homewards as well. And who knows what’s going to come next, but it all centres around those values of trying to help deliver change and make those lives better.”

The Princess only in September announced after eight months of chemotherapy that she had finished her treatment, but admitted she faced “a long road ahead”. Kate, 42, spent two weeks in hospital in January after undergoing abdominal surgery.

Royal doctors delivered the devastating news that she was suffering from cancer just weeks later, leading the future Queen to take a prolonged period away from royal life to concentrate on her recovery. At the same time, the King spent three nights being treated for an enlarged prostate at The London Clinic in Marylebone, London, where Kate was being treated for her abdominal surgery.

Astonishingly both Charles and his daughter-in-law were then delivered the news of their cancer diagnosis within days of each other. As part of his searingly honest chat, William described the event as “the hardest year in my life”. He said the experience of witnessing his two loved ones go through their individual health woes was “brutal” and “dreadful”.

But as the royal family put on a show of unity this weekend, both at the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall and at the Cenotaph in London on Remembrance Sunday, William spoke of his optimism for the future.

William has spoken of his desire to do things differently to his father and grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II. On her 21st birthday, 21 April 1947, Princess Elizabeth was with her parents and younger sister on a tour of South Africa. In a speech broadcast on the radio from Cape Town, the Princess dedicated her life to the service of the Commonwealth.

Asked about the parallels of William being back in the same city 77 years later, he gave a moving insight into his plans for the future and his role in developing a modern monarchy. He said: “It’s hard to describe what that is all about, but 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. And to give you more of an understanding around it, I’m doing it with maybe a smaller ‘r’ in the royal, if you like, that’s maybe a better way of saying it.

“So it’s more about impact philanthropy, collaboration, convening, and helping people. “And I’m also going to throw empathy in there as well, because I really care about what I do – it helps impact people’s lives. And I think we could do with some more empathetic leadership around the world. So that’s what I’m trying to bring, that’s what Catherine is trying to bring as well.”

Positive news of Kate’s continued recovery will be welcomed by charities across the country who rely on her support as well as her work to do with early years development of children which has been a focal point of her role in recent years.

The new government who may well choose to deploy the Prince and Princess abroad to promote ‘Brand Britain’.

Royal aides said William would play a key role at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Brazil next year, sparking speculation they William could bring his Earthshot to South America at the same time.

A royal source said: “The prince and princess look forward to working together on issues which are close to their heart and have the capacity to affect change for as many people as possible.”