As the clock struck midnight on December 31, 2024, ushering in the new year, Prince William and Princess Catherine embraced the quiet arrival of 2025 at their beloved retreat, Anmer Hall in Norfolk. The evening was filled with love, reflection, and intimate celebration, as the couple looked back on a year that had tested their family's resilience, strength, and unity.
The year had been especially challenging for the royal family, with both Princess Catherine and King Charles receiving early cancer diagnoses in 2024. During the King’s annual holiday speech, he thanked doctors and nurses, though he did not mention Princess Catherine by name. He did, however, make a clear reference to her, expressing heartfelt thanks to the “selfless doctors and nurses who supported me and my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness.”
Despite these personal remarks, the King faced criticism for not acknowledging Prince Harry and his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, in his family-oriented address. In his speech, King Charles emphasized the importance of family and friends coming together, but Harry’s family was notably absent. Images from the royal Christmas walk at Sandringham featured Prince William, Princess Catherine, and their three children, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince Louis, but there was no mention or appearance of Harry’s family.
The omission of Harry and his children went largely unnoticed in mainstream British media but was widely criticized on social media. King Charles also avoided filming his speech from behind his desk, preventing close analysis of photos or portraits in the shot that could hint at who was in or out of royal favor.
Sources claim that while King Charles wishes to reconcile with Harry, he is being blocked by his son William, who is adamantly opposed to any such reconciliation. William, angered by Harry’s betrayal of the family in his books and interviews, believes that Harry's public accusations — including claims of racism within the royal family — have made any possibility of reconciliation untenable. Since Charles, who is battling cancer, feels he cannot pass on a fractured family legacy to his heir, he is caught in a difficult situation.
The King’s pre-taped Christmas address touched on universal themes of suffering and support, emphasizing how people, whether of faith or not, measure their civilization by their ability to help and draw strength from each other. As the year ended, the royal family focused on unity, gratitude, and the joy of being together, with these themes highlighted at the Princess of Wales's annual “Together at Christmas” carol service on December 6.
The experiences of 2024 have reinforced the commitment between King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, as well as the royal couple’s dedication to their roles within the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth. Looking ahead, Princess Catherine is expected to continue her recovery, which has brought renewed optimism. Her return to public duties will likely be gradual, but the impact is expected to be significant.
As the new year begins, the Prince and Princess of Wales are ready to take on the challenges ahead with renewed purpose. With their strength and unity serving as a guiding light for the family, they hope to continue building on their shared commitments as they move forward into 2025.
