Inside the Royal Family’s Turbulent Years: From Health Crises to Meghan’s Exit

The British royal family has been navigating a whirlwind of dramatic events over the past several years, from health challenges to ongoing family tensions. King Charles III briefly stepped back from public duties after being diagnosed with cancer, entrusting more responsibilities to his wife, Queen Camilla, and his son Prince William. Meanwhile, Princess Kate Middleton has completed cancer treatment, as well. Tensions also remain high with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who exited their royal roles five years ago but continue to drum up headlines with their U.S.-based ventures and intermittent engagements with the monarchy.

Amid all this, Duchess Sophie and Prince Edward have quietly emerged as the monarchy’s reliable “secret weapons,” taking on pivotal duties to hold the family together during this unprecedented crisis. If the monarchy once symbolized stability, its current state has royal experts calling it the “biggest crisis” since Edward VIII‘s abdication in 1936.

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists from Us Weekly.