Prince William and his family were royally tested last year.
The Prince of Wales shared insight into the challenges that the royal family faced in 2024, which included both his wife Kate Middleton and his father King Charles III being diagnosed with cancer.
“I’d say 2024 was the hardest year I’ve ever had,” William tells Eugene Levy in a preview clip for an upcoming episode of the third season of his Apple TV+ show The Reluctant Traveler. “You know, life is sent to test us as well, and being able to overcome that is what makes us who we are.”
The 43-year-old—who shares Prince George, 12, and Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7, with Kate—also alluded to the exhaustion that came with raising three young children and carrying out his royal duties all while being there for wife and father as they battled cancer.
“Sleep,” he said to Eugene after he asked what he does when he’s at home. “When you’ve got three small children, sleep is an important part of my life.”
Indeed, while Kate announced that she was cancer free back in January, life in recovery hasn’t been a cake walk for the Princess of Wales and her family.
“You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment,” she explained during a royal engagement in July. “Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,’ but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.”
The 43-year-old, who shared her diagnosis just over a month after her father-in-law’s made his known in February 2024, went on to note the importance of having additional support as she’s reentered public life, which she called “life-changing.”
“You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to,” she shared of being out of cancer treatment. “And actually, someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after treatment, I think is really valuable.”
“You have to find your new normal and that takes time,” Kate added, “and it’s a rollercoaster, it’s not smooth, like you expect it to be. But the reality is you go through hard times.”
Keep reading for more news about the royal family from this year…
Sarah Ferguson dropped from charity for Epstein email
In September 2025, the Duchess of York was dropped as a patron to Julia’s House for a resurfaced 2011 email to Jeffrey Epstein in which she called him a friend.
“Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of York’s correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia’s House has taken the decision that it would be inappropriate for her to continue as a patron of the charity,” the charity wrote in a statement per The Guardian. “We have advised the Duchess of York of this decision and thank her for her past support.”
A spokesperson for Ferguson said the virtual correspondence was written after a threat made to her by Epstein.
Prince Harry and King Charles III Reunite
For the first time in 19 months, the Duke of Sussex was seen arriving by car to Clarence House—the King’s London residence—to seemingly meet with his father before heading to another engagement in the city.
While Harry pulled into the residence around 5:20 p.m. local time on Sept. 10, Charles returned to the home just hours before.
Peter Phillips Announces Engagement
The son of Princess Anne and her ex-husband Mark Phillips shared that he was engaged to his girlfriend Harriet Sperling on Aug. 1 after more than a year of dating.
“Both families were informed jointly of the announcement,” the couple’s spokesperson said in a statement to Hello! at the time, “and were delighted with the wonderful news of their engagement.”
Queen Camilla Makes History with New Royal Title
One day before her 78th birthday, the royal received the title of Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom from the Royal Navy.
Camilla is the first woman to hold the honorary title, which can only be appointed by the sovereignin this case, her husband King Charles III—on the nomination of the First Sea Lord, who is currently Sir Gwyn Jenkins.
Kate Middleton Pulls Out of Royal Ascot
The Princess of Wales pulled out of a planned appearance at the Royal Ascot hours before she was set to return to the annual horse race alongside, Kensington Palace confirmed to NBC News.
According to the palace, Kate was disappointed to have to miss the event but is still figuring out the right balance for herself when it comes to completing public engagements following her cancer battle.
Prince Harry Loses Appeal to Dismiss Decision in His Security Protection Case
Over one year after the High Court denied additional security protection through the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, Prince Harry’s legal fight ended when the courts dismissed the case May 2.
His and Meghan Markle’s security was lessened after they stepped back as working members of the royal family in 2021 and moved to the United States. However, in the years that followed, Harry had requested security while visiting the U.K.
The Duke of Sussex told the BBC May 2 that he was “devastated” about losing his legal battle. He emphasized, “I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point.”
Prince Harry and King Charles III Are Not Speaking
Harry told the BBC May 2 that his father King Charles III won’t speak to him “because of this security stuff,” but added that “it would be nice to reconcile.”
The Duke of Sussex, who shares kids Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet with Meghan, said that he would love to reconnect with his family. But the ball is in his dad’s court.
“I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point,” he said. “It’s really quite sad that I won’t be able to show my children my homeland.”
“There is a lot of control and ability in my father’s hands, ultimately this whole thing could be resolved through him,” Harry added. “Not necessarily by intervening but by stepping aside and allowing the experts to do what is necessary and to carry on.”
Despite the years of conflict, he’s waving the white flag in hopes of reconciliation. He added, “Life is precious, I don’t know how much longer my father has.”
King Charles III Shares Insight Into His Cancer Diagnosis
Over one year after King Charles shared his cancer diagnosis, he wrote April 29 that his health journey and cancer treatment are experiences that bring “into sharp focus the very best of humanity.”
“Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones,” Charles wrote in the booklet for the reception to provide resources for those with cancer. “But as one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity.”
He also thanked healthcare workers who helped him amid his journey, adding, “It has certainly given me an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken by the remarkable organisations and individuals gathered here this evening, many of whom I have known, visited and supported over the years.”
Prince William and Kate Middleton’s Family Skips Royal Family’s Easter Service
Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis did not attend the royal family’s annual Easter service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor April 20.
While King Charles III and Queen Camilla celebrated with the rest of the royal family, William and Kate decided to spend the weekend at their Norfolk country home with their kids, multiple outlets reported.
Their absence marked the second Easter they skipped, with the 2024 holiday taking place a week after the Princess of Wales announced her cancer diagnosis.
Royal Aide Who Accused Meghan Markle Of Bullying Receives a Promotion
Jason Knauf was announced as the new CEO of Prince William’s organization, The Earthshot Prize, April 15. He shared a statement on the website that he was looking forward to “working with our exceptional team and incredible Earthshot community to advance our mission of urgent optimism for our planet.”
His promotion came nearly seven years after he made a complaint against Meghan Markle, accusing her of bullying two personal assistants and seeking “to undermine” a third staff member. A spokesperson for the Sussexes denied the allegations and told The Times that the rumors were part of a “calculated smear campaign based on misleading and harmful misinformation.”
Buckingham Palace investigated the allegations and the case was wrapped up in 2022 without any findings made public.
Prince George Makes His First Public Appearance of 2025
William and Kate’s eldest son George attended a soccer match in Paris alongside his dad April 7.
The father-son duo were all smiles at the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final game as the Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa FC faced off at the Parc des Princes stadium.
Former Bodyguard to Prince Harry and Prince William Dies
Graham Craker—who acted as a bodyguard for the royal family, including Prince Harry and Prince William—died at the age of 77 in April.
Craker was notably with the boys when they learned their mother, Princess Diana, had died and he participated in her funeral services.
On the latter, Craker told The New York Post in 2017, “I was standing at the rear of the hearse and William looked up and acknowledged me. I looked toward him and nodded. William was comforted that I was with his mum on her final journey.”
The Duke and Duchess of Westminster Expecting Their First Baby
Hugh Grosvenor, who is King Charles III’s godson, and his wife Olivia Grosvenor announced March 12 that she is pregnant with their first baby.
“The duchess is expecting a baby in the summer,” a spokesperson told The Telegraph. “The couple are delighted with the news and are very much looking forward to starting a family together.”
Luxembourg’s Prince Fredrik Dies at 22
PrinceFrederik—the son of Prince Robert and his wife Princess Julie—died March 1 at 22 years old after a battle with PolG mitochondrial disease, a rare genetic disorder.
“Frederik knows that he is my Superhero, as he is to all of our family, and to so very many good friends and now in great part thanks to his PolG Foundation, to so very many people the world over,” Robert said in a statement. “Part of his superpower was his ability to inspire and to lead by example.”
Prince Harry Reaches Settlement in U.K. Tabloids Lawsuit
The Duke of Sussex reached a settlement with News Group Newspapers—which is responsible for The Sun as well as the now defunct News of the World—on Jan. 22 after suing the organization in 2019 over alleged unlawful actions on the part of journalists and private investigators working for the newspapers to obtain information on the royal family.
The deal included the company paying “substantial damages,” as well as issuing a “full and unequivocal apology” to Harry and public acknowledgement of “the extensive coverage and serious intrusion into his private life as well as the private life of Diana, Princess of Wales,” per NBC News.
Kate Middleton Is in Remission After Finishing Chemotherapy for Cancer
The Princess of Wales announced on Jan. 14 that she’s in remission after complete cancer treatments.
“It is a relief to now be in remission and I remain focused on recovery,” she wrote in a message on X, formerly Twitter, Jan. 14. “As anyone who has experienced a cancer diagnosis will know, it takes time to adjust to a new normal.”
“I am however looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead,” she continued. “There is much to look forward to.”
Meghan Markle’s Longtime Dog Guy Dies
The Duchess of Sussex mourned the death of her beloved rescue beagle, who she adopted in 2015 before meeting husband Prince Harry.
She wrote on Instagram Jan. 7, “I have cried too many tears to count – the type of tears that make you get in the shower with the absurd hope that the running water on your face will somehow make you not feel them, or pretend they’re not there. But they are. And that’s okay too.”
“Thank you for so many years of unconditional love, my sweet Guy,” Meghan added. “You filled my life in ways you’ll never know.”
Prince William Mourns Death of Former Nanny’s Stepson
Edward “Ed” Pettifer—stepson of Prince William and Prince Harry’s former nanny Alexandra Pettifer, also known as Tiggy Legge-Bourke—was one of the victims of the New Year’s Day terrorist attack in New Orleans.
“Catherine and I have been shocked and saddened by the tragic death of Ed Pettifer,” William said in a message posted on Kate Middleton’s Instagram Stories Jan. 4. “Our thoughts and prayers remain with the Pettifer family and all those innocent people who have been tragically impacted by this horrific attack.”
Meghan Markle Rejoins Instagram to Reveal New Netflix Show
The Suits alum—who shut down her personal social media accounts shortly before her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry—debuted a solo Instagram page on Jan. 1.
A day later, she announced a new Netflix series titled With Love, Meghan, which “reimagines the genre of lifestyle programming, blending practical how-to’s and candid conversation with friends, new and old,” according to a press release.
Kate Middleton, Prince William and Kids Attend Wimbledon
Kate and William stepped out for a rare outing with kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte in honor of Wimbledon in June 2025.
“A pleasure to be back in SW19 for the finals of this year’s @wimbledon Championships this weekend,” the family wrote in an Instagram post at the time. “Congratulations again to @iga.swiatek and @janniksin on your wins! And a huge thank you to everybody involved in making the tournament so special.”
