Kate Middleton has been through a lot this year, and she spent many months out of the spotlight. After announcing she was officially in recovery in September 2024, the Princess recently attended the Christmas carol service, alongside her husband and their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis. On 6 December 2024, Kate Middleton attended her fourth carol service, but this year's events have had a special meaning for her entire family.
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2024 was a tough year for the Royal family
In 2024, Kate Middleton announced she suffered from cancer, and she retired from the public eye to focus on her journey to recovery. In a rare and candid moment, British singer Paloma Faith had an intimate conversation with the Princess, asking her how she was doing. According to People, Kate Middleton, who does not usually talk about herself that much, responded:
I didn’t know this year was going to be the year that I’ve just had.
As the Princess has been slowly recovering, several royal experts believe she is also getting ready to take on her future role as Queen. Indeed, while Prince William's reign might seem far away, the couple has had to advance their preparations as the King was also diagnosed with cancer this year. He has taken a step back from his duties to focus on his health, and Queen Camilla covered for him for a while. However, she has also been forced to take a step back as she is currently battling pneumonia. Her son, Tom Parker Bowles, recently told The Daily Telegraph:
It has been a hell of a two years for them. The older you get, the more conscious you become of mortality, especially with illnesses and the rest of it.
Prince William and his family are preparing for their future reign
According to royal author Sally Bedell Smith, given all that has happened in the past year, Prince William has been getting more responsibilities and his journey towards the throne may have become accelerated. She told People:
Although the King is carrying out his duties with typical determination, he has had to accept limitations during his cancer treatment. As a result, William has been taking on more responsibilities, and he and Kate have been preparing for their future roles sooner than they would have expected.
An insider also believes the family's recent health issues have shone a light on what their future holds. They explain:
There’s a sense of calm before the storm. They are next in line for the biggest job of their lives, and of course, Kate’s health has taken priority, but it’s also allowed everyone to take a step back and figure out what’s important right now.
Prince William is already taking on more of his father's duties as he represented the Royal Family among world leaders during the ceremonial re-opening of the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. He notably met with the US president-elect Donald Trump to discuss international relations between the two countries on behalf of the King.
Prince William, Kate Middleton and their three children are expected to spend Christmas at Sandringham with the King and Queen, allowing them to have some family time as this difficult year comes to an end.
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Sources used:
People: Kate Middleton's New Reality: Confronting Her Future Role as Queen 'Sooner Than Expected' (Exclusive)
The Daily Telegraph: Tom Parker Bowles: ‘I learned a long time ago not to put my fat fingers into the world of William and Harry’
