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With Charles and Kate still out of action, the ‘slimmed down’ working Royals have been in the spotlight. But now Camilla’s had to take a break and William has pulled out of a public event…
The late Queen Elizabeth once famously dubbed 1992 her ‘annus horribilis’ – after a fire ravaged Windsor Castle and both Prince Andrew and Princess Anne announced impending divorces– but for the Royal Family, 2024 is surely shaping up to be one of the toughest years ever.
First came the shock news of the Duchess of Cambridge’s hospitalisation. It was back in January that Kate, 42, was admitted to private hospital The London Clinic for ‘planned’ abdominal surgery.
While no other information has been made public by the Palace, other than that her condition is not cancerous – it is clearly sufficiently serious that she’s not expected back at work until after Easter. Her first expected Royal engagement is the Trooping the Colour which is not until 8 June. Kate, as Colonel of the Irish Guards, is expected to carry out the inspection of the dress rehearsal, ahead of the main event on 15 June, although this has not been confirmed by the Palace.
Recently, the Palace released an update about her condition – saying that she was ‘doing well’ – a move that was thought to be in response to intense speculation about how she was getting on following her release from hospital.
A few weeks after the news about Kate came a further bombshell – King Charles, 75, who had recently been in hospital for a procedure on an enlarged prostate, revealed that cancer had been detected during his treatment.
Although he has not said what form the cancer takes, or what stage it has reached, he has confirmed he is having regular treatment and is currently dividing his time between Sandringham in Norfolk, where he is resting after being helicoptered to London to see his doctors.
Upon hearing the news about his father, on 6 February, Prince Harry, 39, boarded a flight and arrived in London – but only spent an estimated half an hour with the King before Charles departed for Sandringham and Harry returned to his family in California.
For William, 41, with his father and his wife both out of action due to medical issues – it must be a period of intense strain– with pressure on his time as he struggles to care for his young family and fulfil his Royal duties.
Eyebrows were raised when he recently missed the memorial service of his godfather, King Constantine of Greece – due to a ‘personal’ matter.
