Kate Middleton and Prince William Balance Parenthood and Royal Duties

The new year is the perfect time to consider what is most important to you. Many people will use this fresh cycle to draw up their 2025 goals, write down their resolutions, and take stock of their gratitudes, including the Prince and Princess of Wales. Following a difficult year that saw Princess Kate get diagnosed with and battle cancer, the royal couple is reassessing their priorities.

Sources close to Kate and William told Daily Mail’s royal correspondent Rebecca English that Kate’s health journey has offered her and her husband a new perspective on life, especially as it relates to parenthood. According to English, Kate and William have set out to protect their children as much as possible as they continue to navigate the public eye.

“It’s impossible to go through that kind of trauma and not to be changed as a person,” friends of the couple told English, referring to the impact of Kate’s struggle with cancer.

Although Kate will reportedly increase her public engagements and royal duties in 2025, she will not be taking on her pre-diagnosis schedule.

“There is no huge reset button that’s going to be hit in January,” the insiders shared with English. “What we will actually see is a slow continuation of the princess balancing her recovery and her public-facing duties.”

Even more critical than what Kate’s return to work may look like, is how she and William plan to prioritize their roles as working royals and involved parents to their three kids, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6.

“Cancer impacts on your perspective, and what you have seen in the decisions they have made over the last year is that family and their children continue to be at the center of their universe,” a source told the expert. “Both Their Royal Highnesses have a strong commitment to duty, service and using their platform for good. But what they are working on is ways they can balance themselves as parents with being the Prince and Princess of Wales.”

This may be especially apparent in the couple’s travel plans, which likely will not include long trips away from home.

According to English, Kate has “no plans—yet—for any full-scale foreign royal tour,” however, she “may join her husband on one short trip, should she feel up to it.” William, on the other hand, is expected to attend a few solo trips abroad, though they are “likely to be shorter two- or three-day visits.” English adds that William’s excursions are “another sign of Catherine’s progress,” as he would not feel comfortable leaving if she weren’t doing well.

“Everyone is adjusting the dial,” a source said, which English has interpreted to mean “the Waleses will strive to not be away from home extensively.”

While parenthood comes first, William and Kate will not be abandoning their royal commitments. In fact, their mantra for 2025 is supposedly, “more but measured.”

“As Catherine herself said, she’s looking forward to the future with hope and a new appreciation of life,” a close friend of the princess said, adding that she is in a “much, much better space” compared to this time last year. “She has also had little choice but to take a step back and focus on herself, which inevitably has led her to reassess where their priorities lie.”