The royal family kept a relatively low profile in 2024 — especially as several members faced a major health crisis.
At the start of the year, things were looking up for the Windsor family. However, both King Charles III and Princess Kate Middleton underwent respective surgeries in January. The next two months included statements announcing cancer diagnoses for both senior royals — although, details about the type of illness have been kept under wraps.
As the year continued, there were continous health updates with Kate finishing chemotherapy in September. While Charles is set to continue his treatments in the new year, the king will resume his regularly scheduled programming going forward.
“We’re now working on a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour program for next year, which is a high point for us, knowing that we can think in those terms,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson told Hello! Magazine in October.
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While Charles and Kate’s cancer diagnoses were two major events within the royal family this year, it’s not the only thing that went down for the Brits in 2024.
Keep scrolling for a reflection on the biggest royal family moments this year:
The King’s Illness
The palace announced that Charles underwent a routine prostate procedure in January. One week later, the king was diagnosed with an unspecified type of cancer.
“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties,” a February statement announced. “Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.”
Charles initially took a step back from his public-facing duties but has since returned to work full force. Details about his cancer journey have been few and far between but the palace did share that Charles would be continuing chemotherapy in 2025.
When asked for a health update in December, Charles proved he’s still in good spirits. “I’m still alive,” he joked. (Well, that’s promising.)
The Photoshop Scandal
Kate celebrated Mother’s Day on March 10, and shared a photo with her three kids — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — that appeared to have been edited. Many news outlets received a “kill notification” to remove the photo from their respective sites. Speculation surrounding the image led Kate to speak out one day later and admit to editing the image.
Meghan Markle Announces Her Brand
After five years off Instagram, Meghan returned to the social media platform to announce her American Riviera Orchard brand (which has yet to officially launch). As the year went on, Meghan’s famous friends received — and posted about on social media — products from the company which teased what fans can expect.
Kate’s Whirlwind Cancer Journey
Amid the Photoshop scandal, Kate was privately experiencing a health battle.
The Princess of Wales underwent a “planned” abdominal surgery in January and took a break from all public-facing duties while recovering. Silence from Kate and the lack of public appearances led to wild speculation about her whereabouts. On March 22, she finally spoke out and announced that she was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer. She kept a low profile until making two public outings in the summer — one at Trooping the Colour in June and Wimbledon in July.
By September, Kate made a return to her royal duties after completing her treatment. While out and about on Christmas day, the Princess of Wales offered a minor health update during a discussion with royal watchers.
“The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families,” she said in footage obtained by the Daily Mail. “People like you are doing all the hard work out there. I’m hugely grateful.”
Prince William and the Kids Meet Taylor Swift
The Prince of Wales celebrated his 42nd birthday rocking out to “Shake It Off” while taking Prince George and Princess Charlotte to see Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour at Wembley Stadium on June 22. The kids (and William) got a chance to meet Swift backstage, snapping selfies with her and Travis Kelce.
Prince Harry’s ESPYs Drama
In July, it was announced that Harry would receive the Pat Tillman Award for Service at the 2024 ESPY Awards that same month. The Duke of Sussex received widespread backlash after being chosen (even Pat Tillman’s mother spoke out against the choice) but still took the stage at the event when accepting the award on July 11.
I stand here not as Prince Harry, Pat Tillman Award recipient but rather a voice on behalf of the Invictus Games Foundation and the thousands of veterans and service personnel across 20 nations who have made the Invictus Games a reality,” he said during his speech, in part. “This award belongs to them, not to me. That said, it is of great importance to me to highlight these allies, athletes and their amazing families for their achievements, their spirit and their courage at every opportunity, especially on nights like this in front of people like you.”
Harry was given the award following his 10 years of service in the British Armed Forces and for cofounding the Invictus Games which offers wounded, injured or sick armed service members to compete in various sports.
William’s Beard Is All Anyone Can Talk About
Royal watchers were shook when William debuted new facial hair in August. The scruffy look was here to stay for the rest of 2024 — even though Princess Charlotte was not a fan.
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“Charlotte didn’t like it the first time,” William said in November. “I got floods of tears, so I [had] to shave it off. And then I grew it back. I thought, ‘Hang on a second,’ and I convinced her it was going to be OK.”
Princess Beatrice Expands Her Family
Buckingham Palace announced on October 1 that Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, were expecting baby No. 2. The couple already shares 3-year-old daughter Sienna.
Edoardo is also the father to 8-year-old son Wolfie, whom he shares with ex-fiancée Dara Huang.
We’re Still Talking About Prince Andrew
Another year, more royal drama surrounding Prince Andrew.
In November, it was reported that Charles had cut his brother (whose royal titles were stripped in 2019 following a sexual misconduct scandal) off financially. Royal author Robert Hardman’s book, Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, stated that Charles had revoked his brother’s annual allowance which was estimated to be in the realm of $1 million.
The following month, Andrew made headlines once again when he was allegedly connected to a businessman accused of being a Chinese spy, who has been referred to as H6. In a December 6 statement to the BBC, Andrew confirmed that he had “ceased all contact” with the individual and any past contact they had was “through official channels” and “nothing of a sensitive nature [was] ever discussed.”
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