As King Charles, 76 and battling cancer, faces an uncertain future, there are growing indications that Prince William and Kate Middleton's succession to the throne may come “sooner than expected. ”In a new article in People magazine, several royal experts open up about how the Welsh couple are preparing for their final opened up about how the Welsh couple is preparing for their eventual roles.

The king, who announced in February that he had been diagnosed with unspecified cancer, has remained calm, but royal author Sally Bedell Smith told the magazine that the monarch cannot do it all.

“The king has performed his duties with typical determination, but has had to accept limitations during his cancer treatment. As a result, William has taken on more responsibilities, and he and Kate are preparing for their future roles sooner than expected.”

The Prince of Wales, who represented the United Kingdom to Paris for the reopening ceremony of Notre Dame on behalf of his father, is a prime example of William's increased role. Many see William's meeting with President-elect Donald Trump as a sign that the royal family has passed the baton, so to speak.

As for the Prince and Princess of Wales, an inside source told People, “There is a sense of the calm before the storm. Of course, Kate's health was a priority, but it allowed everyone to take a step back and think about what is important now.”

Like the King, the Crown Princess was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, and the key this year was to focus on Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis and allow them time to recover. A source told People magazine that Princess William's eventual ascension to the throne is “something the royal family always has in mind.”

The source noted, however, that “it would be very wise for her to slow down and prioritize family time as she looks to the future.”

In a September cancer update video, Queen Elizabeth explained that she would take on work when she felt up to it and stressed that “the road to healing and full recovery is long.” Alisa Anderson, former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth, told People magazine that the occasional surprise visit is a strategy that has worked well.

“We don't want to just have Queen Elizabeth face a setback, feel bad, and have her plans canceled,” Anderson added. As for the King, no one knows what his health will be like, but for now, William and Kate are enjoying the quiet time they have been given.