How 2024 became another ‘annus horribilis’ for the Royal family
The year 2024, the Princess of Wales told guests at her annual carol concert, with some understatement, was “unplanned”.
From the moment the Royal family left Sandringham after a very merry Christmas 2023, things went rather off-piste.
Two of the most senior members of the Royal family fell seriously ill, and their worlds shifted accordingly.
There have been moments of desperate worry, not least the hospitalisation of the Princess Royal with a head injury and of the Queen with pneumonia. The Prince of Wales, meanwhile, has been trying his best to keep the show on the road for all generations as his wife and father recover from cancer.
But there has been joy too. Dancing to Taylor Swift, “healing” hugs with the New Zealand rugby team and the soft launch, at an outpost of the Windsors in California, of some American jam.
As 2024 draws to its close, the King can look back with pride, having accomplished a major tour of Australia and a full return to public duties. There are also promising signs of recovery for his much-loved daughter-in-law.
If 1992 was the Queen’s “annus horribilis”, however, there is a strong case for 2024 being her son’s.
Indeed, Queen Camilla told guests at Clarence House she will be glad to reach the end of it.
As the Royal family gathers at Sandringham today amid the relative peace and quiet of their Christmas holidays, they will likely take a moment to newly appreciate their time together – and raise a glass to calmer times to come.
January
The year did not get off to a smooth start. The Duke of York was mentioned 69 times in more than 900 pages of documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. The King indicated that he would be withdrawing the private funding he had been ploughing into his brother’s life at Royal Lodge since the death of their mother.
The Duke of Sussex, enjoying his best life on the other side of the pond, accepted a Living Legend of Aviation award.
A biography of King Charles gave a poignant insight into Elizabeth II’s last days, revealing that she left her eldest son a sealed letter in her final red box. He learnt the news of her death while driving to Balmoral from wild mushroom picking, when a senior aide addressed him as “Your Majesty”.
On January 17, Kensington Palace revealed that the Princess of Wales was hospitalised for serious abdominal surgery, and the King was to be treated for a prostate problem.
Four days later, Sarah, Duchess of York disclosed that she had been diagnosed with a malignant melanoma just six months after learning she had breast cancer.
Prince Harry and Meghan made a flying visit to Jamaica to a film premiere, posing with the anti-monarchist prime minister who is actively campaigning to become a republic. The timing during a royal health scare, not for the first time, was noted.
February
The King’s prostate problem was investigated further, and cancer (not of the prostate, but otherwise undisclosed) was found. He retreated from public-facing engagements while embarking on treatment, to minimise the risk of infection, and Queen Camilla stepped up.
Prince Harry flew in from California for a short meeting with his father at Sandringham. The rest of the Royal family tried to keep calm and carry on with their ordinary engagements, and the King was seen walking to church at Sandringham.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex rebranded their office with a coat of arms; Meghan signed with a podcast company that aims to “make life suck less”; and the pair headed to the slopes for the launch of the first Winter Invictus Games.
The Prince of Wales made an unprecedented intervention over the Middle East conflict, saying “too many have been killed” since the Hamas terror attack. The following week he met Holocaust survivors and young Jewish people in London and told them he is “so sorry” about rising anti-Semitism.
The King was filmed opening his get well cards, admitting some had brought him to tears.
Thomas Kingston, husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor, is found dead at his parents’ home from a gunshot wound to the head.
Prince William was missing from a memorial service for his godfather, King Constantine of Greece. He weathered strong criticism but did give a reason.
March
Conspiracy theories about the Princess of Wales ramped up online as she stayed out of the public eye.
“Uncle Gary”, the younger brother of the Princess’s mother Carole, goes into the Big Brother house and emerges without a major diplomatic incident.
Prince Edward celebrates his 60th birthday.
Catherine and her three children are seen in a new picture for Mothering Sunday, taken by Prince William, for which she later apologised after major photo agencies withdrew the image because it appeared to have been digitally altered.
The Duchess of Sussex launched her lifestyle business American Riviera Orchard, from Montecito, California, baking in a ballgown for an Instagram advert.
It was reported that a member of staff at the private hospital at which the Princess of Wales received treatment accessed her medical records. The hospital and Information Commissioner both launched investigations into the alleged security breach.
On March 22, she released a video telling the world that she was having treatment for cancer.
The King returned to lead the Royal family at the annual Easter church service, shaking hands with more than 50 well-wishers.
April
Prince William began returning to work after a period of absence while he supported the Princess in her chemotherapy. He was spotted at a football match with Prince George.
Meghan sent out her first batch of jam to friends, who posted pictures of the product on Instagram.
The Princess of Wales became the first member of the Royal family appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour, a show of support from the King.
The King began his return to public engagements with a visit to a cancer hospital, the start of a plan to gradually resume a full programme.
May
Prince Harry visited London again, this time for an Invictus Games anniversary event, but he did not see his father on this occasion. Team Sussex said the King was “too busy”.
Prince William hosted a Buckingham Palace garden party at which he was joined by his cousins, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall.
Harry and Meghan headed to Nigeria for a non-royal tour. She thanked hosts for “welcoming me to my country” after taking a DNA test which found she was 43 per cent Nigerian.
The King unveiled a striking red portrait by Jonathan Yeo, the first official commission since the Coronation.
The monarch held a rare joint engagement with William, handing over the role of colonel-in-chief of the Army Air Corps after 32 years.
June
The King, Queen and Prince of Wales travelled to Normandy to honour veterans on the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
The Princess of Wales released a new photograph taken on the Windsor estate, and a statement saying she has “good days and bad days” but will be back for Trooping the Colour. On the day, Prince Louis stole the show dancing to the military music.
The King and Queen wore full regalia for the Order of the Garter service, leading the wider Royal family.
Prince William took George and Charlotte to see Taylor Swift perform at Wembley, where he was filmed “dad dancing”.
Princess Anne was hospitalised after being kicked in the head by a horse, in a serious accident that required weeks of recovery.
The Japanese State visit saw the King joke about Hello Kitty and Pokemon over the course of a speech at Buckingham Palace.
July
The Queen laid on a special tea for two children – Tony, who had his legs amputated after being tortured by his birth parents, and Lyla who had a rare brain tumour – both of whom missed a Buckingham Palace garden party.
Prince Harry accepted a sports award named after Pat Tillman, an American war hero killed in Afghanistan, prompting criticism from – among others – Tillman’s mother, who questioned why it would go to “such a controversial and divisive individual”.
William delivered his first speech of the year, on preventing homelessness, before flying out to cheer on England football players in the Euros.
The royal finances were published, revealing a £45 million boost thanks to profits from the Crown Estate.
Prince Harry claimed his late grandmother supported his court battle against the tabloids, saying: “She’s very much up there saying ‘see this through to the end’.”
August
The Prince of Wales launched an art exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery, London, to change perceptions of homelessness.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex paid a visit to Colombia, whose Vice President said she invited the couple after watching their Netflix show.
The King praised Britain’s community spirit in the wake of riots following the stabbing of three young girls in Southport.
The question of Prince Andrew’s continued use of Royal Lodge was back in the headlines, with the King and his brother at loggerheads over its financing.
Prince William and Harry both attended the funeral of Lord Fellowes, their maternal uncle, but did not speak.
September
Prince William debuted his summer beard in public. It has stayed ever since.
Prince Harry celebrated his 40th birthday in California.
The Princess of Wales used a remarkably intimate video to tell the public that she had finished her chemotherapy. She said she had a new gratitude for the simpler things in life.
The King enjoyed a “very healing” hug with the New Zealand women’s rugby team during an event at Buckingham Palace.
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James Middleton, the Princess’s brother, released a memoir about his beloved dog Ella, and how she saved his life, complete with sweet insights into his sister’s life, including how he heard she was engaged when she whispered the news to him in a pub.
The Princess of Wales appears for the second time in the court circular since finishing her chemotherapy, having held a meeting for her Early Years childhood project.
October
Princess Beatrice announced that she was pregnant with her second child, with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh visited his mother and father’s beloved former home in Malta, after it was reopened to the public for restoration. A week later, she flew to the Chad-Sudan border to meet victims of extreme sexual violence in war.
The Prince and Princess of Wales met Southport families and emergency responders.
The King and Queen visited Australia and Samoa, for an action-packed tour in which he was heckled by a senator and thousands rallied to show their support.
The Prince and Princess of Wales invited teenager Liz Hatton to Windsor Castle to fulfil one of her bucket-list wishes of photographing an investiture.
November
The King was reported to have severed Prince Andrew’s £1 million-a-year allowance.
An examination of the Duchy of Lancaster and Duchy of Cornwall finances found that they charge rent to charities and the NHS.
Prince William travelled to Cape Town for the awards ceremony of his Earthshot Prize, giving a series of interviews about his passion for saving the planet and his family’s “brutal” year.
Queen Camilla fell ill with a chest infection, which was later revealed to have turned into pneumonia.
The King led the family and nation in the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph, while the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Edinburgh watched from a balcony.
The Queen appeared in a domestic violence documentary, acclaimed by critics and survivors. In the same month, her beloved rescue dog was put to sleep.
Little Prince Louis, his father revealed, was learning to play the drums.
December
The Royal family rallied to host the Qatari state visit, with the Princess of Wales forming part of the greeting party, and the recovering Queen attending the banquet alongside her husband. David and Victoria Beckham were among the guests.
Prince William rushed to Paris for the re-opening of Notre Dame, holding a meeting with Donald Trump while he was there.
The Princess hosted her annual carol concert, dedicated to kindness and good deeds in times of trouble.
William served Christmas lunch for the homeless at The Passage.
Prince Harry and Meghan released their latest Netflix effort, a polo documentary about “dirty sweaty boys riding”.
Prince Andrew ended the year as he began: in the headlines; this time over his involvement with an alleged Chinese spy.
The Royal family enters into the Christmas spirit by sending out their official cards, decorating the Clarence House tree and, in the Queen’s case, flambéing a 22lb pudding.
On Christmas Day, they come together for what is thought to be the biggest ever festive gathering at Sandringham – an estimated 70 people including Queen Camilla’s side of the family – to make their annual stroll to church to meet the public.
