Prince William has dec lared that "2024" was the "hardest year" of his life

Now, in an appearance on Eugene Levy's Apple TV+ travel series The Reluctant Travele, William admitted those 12 months were unbelievably tough on him, although he accepts there will always be testing times in life.

In a preview clip from an upcoming episode of the show - for which Eugene, 78, is invited on a tour of Windsor Castle - the Prince of Wales spoke candidly to the American Pie star over a pint of beer in a pub, when the heir to the British throne admitted: "I'd say 2024 was the hardest year I've ever had.

"You know, life is sent to test us as well, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are."

This episode of the eight-part globetrotting series - which sees Eugene take in some of the world's most beautiful countries - sees the Emmy Award-winning actor travel to London.

At the start of the preview clip, the Schitt's Creek star can be seen taking an open-top bus tour of the UK's capital city.

While on the excursion, he said he had "never felt more like a tourist".

The clip then cuts to Eugene in his lavish hotel room, where a butler hands him a letter, which was revealed by the actor that it come from Kensington Palace.

The letter, written in January 2025, said: "Dear Eugene, I heard that your travels have brought you to the UK, and I wondered if you might like to see Windsor Castle?

"If you're free at 10 tomorrow, why don't you pop down to the castle for a private tour. Would be great to see you! With best wishes."

It was then signed by Prince William.

After a burst of laughter after finding out the letter was penned by the royal, the clip cuts to a wide shot of the breath-taking Windsor Castle - what is said to be the royal family's favourite residence - in Windsor, Berkshire, South East England.

Eugene can then be seen shaking hands with Prince William - who is standing on his electric scooter - in the castle's quadrangle.

The actor said: "Your Royal Highness," with the Prince of Wales then replying: "Nice to see you."

Prince William can then be seen walking Eugene through a room inside the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world.

The royal quipped: "We provide this service for everyone. We do personalised tours everywhere."

Then, the clip cuts to a moving shot of Prince William, his 43-year-old wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, and their children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and seven year old Prince Louis' black cocker spaniel Orla roaming around Windsor Great Park.

Orla was joined by her master and Eugene, and then the camera panned to the actor, who asked the Prince of Wales: "What do you do when you're home?"

Laughing, the heir to the throne replied: "Sleep!

"When you've got three small children, sleep is an important part of my life."

The clip then turned to the pub scene where Prince William admitted that 2024 was "the hardest year I've ever had".

Princess Catherine announced her undisclosed cancer diagnosis in March 2024, and she began chemotherapy treatment in February 2024, after cancerous cells were found in tissues removed during an operation at the London Clinic in January 2024.

She revealed in January 2025 that she was in remission.

King Charles' cancer diagnosis was announced in February 2024, and he has received treatment for an undisclosed form of the disease as an outpatient.