Exactly one year ago, the Prince and Princess of Wales were facing a very uncertain 2024.
Twelve months ago, Kate was admitted to hospital for major abdominal surgery and then weeks later, she revealed her cancer diagnosis and how she would be starting treatment. After stepping away from the public eye for most of the year, she completed her chemotherapy – and in the last few months has made a gradual return to royal life. And at the end of 2024, she took part in the Royal Family’s annual walk to church on Christmas Day at Sandringham, where she beamed as she was inundated with flowers and gifts from kind wellwishers.
It led many to wonder if the dawn of 2025 would mean a return to more full-time royal work for Kate after several appearances in recent weeks, including at her Christmas Carol Concert at Westminster Abbey.
But a royal insider has said royal watchers will still have to have patience when it comes to seeing Kate on official duties on a more regular basis. A source told the Daily Mail: “There is no huge reset button that’s going to be hit in January. What we will actually see is a slow continuation of the Princess balancing her recovery and her public-facing duties, as she outlined back in September [when she warned her recovery was still ongoing despite having completed her chemotherapy].
“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 centre of their universe. 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.”
In addition, the paper reports there are no plans for any full-scale foreign tours for Kate but she could join William on a shorter trip if she feels up to it. William himself is said to have several overseas trips lined up in the coming months.
