One year ago, the future for the Prince and Princess of Wales was clouded with uncertainty. Kate had a particularly challenging time, having to undergo major abdominal surgery followed by the disclosure of her cancer diagnosis and the start of her treatment weeks later.
For most of 2024, she stepped out of the limelight, focusing on completing her chemotherapy and looking after her children. In recent months, however, she’s slowly returned to Royal engagements, culminating in her participation in the Royal Family’s Christmas Day church walk at Sandringham, where she was heartily greeted with flowers and gifts from wellwishers.
This has sparked speculation about whether 2025 will see Kate resume more full-time Royal duties after a few recent public appearances, such as hosting a Christmas Carol Concert at Westminster Abbey.
Yet, a Royal source indicated to the Daily Mail that fans might need to remain patient: “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.”
Furthermore, it’s reported that there are no plans for any full-scale foreign tours for Kate, but she might join William on a shorter trip if she feels up to it. William himself is rumoured to have several overseas trips planned in the coming months.
During Kate’s last public appearance on Christmas Day, she was spotted hugging a cancer patient after her own ‘brutal’ year battling the disease. Kate, along with her husband Prince William and their children – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six – joined the King and Queen as they walked the short distance from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church, past a crowd of well-wishers.
Some had camped overnight to catch a glimpse of the royals walking to church in Norfolk. After the service, which lasted about 45 minutes, Kate hugged 73 year old Karen Maclean from North Lincolnshire, who said she had had “20 years of cancer”, as she spoke with both the princess and Charles about the disease.
Ms Maclean revealed: “We just had a little talk about cancer, really. I’ve met the King before. He said to me ‘I can remember you’, I’m thinking ‘what! ‘, like many years ago? ” She noted that Charles and Kate appeared “very well actually, considering what they’re going through”. Following a hug with Kate, she expressed: “What a privilege.”
