'Kate Middleton's children show us so much about the year the family's endured' says royal expert
Over the past year, Kate Middleton has stepped back from the limelight after sharing in March that she had been diagnosed cancer and was undergoing treatment. The Princess of Wales graced us with her presence at key events like Trooping The Colour and the Wimbledon Men’s Final during the summer, before announcing in September that she had finished chemotherapy and was now dedicated to "staying cancer free".
Since then, the 42 year old royal has been easing back into her duties, hosting the festive Together At Christmas carol service, which boasted a glittering guest list including Richard and Judy, Strictly's Amy Dowden, and TV darling Lorraine Kelly, as reported by the Mirror.
However, it's been a tough year for Kate, filled with health challenges and proactive chemo treatments, but through it all, the Princess of Wales and her family have become an unbreakable unit. Speaking exclusively to OK!, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said that they “have pulled together as a unit” despite the “brutal” last 12 months.
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She added: "William and Catherine have been quite generous this year in allowing their children to be seen in public. It can’t be easy for young people to face cameras, crowds and scrutiny, and the natural instinct of parents is to protect their children from too much attention. But we saw them at Trooping the Colour and of course in the very personal video released by Catherine to mark the end of her chemotherapy, plus the carol service and Christmas walkabout. And they seem to change as every month goes by," she shared.
Jennie didn't hold back on praising the family's unity and strength, saying, "A year like they have just endured must, as William said, have been brutal for the entire family. But it seems clear that they have pulled together as a unit and they look very much in harmony and delighted to be out and about together again."
Jennie also spoke positively of Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, adding that she believes their parents should beam with pride. She didn't forget to give props to the Middleton grandparents either.
"I think William and Catherine should be rightly proud of their brood and proud of themselves for guiding them through this incredibly difficult year," she said. "I think a shout-out should also go to Carole and Michael Middleton, who have undoubtedly been a vital part of the family this year, both practically and emotionally. I’m sure William and Catherine leant on them very hard during their darkest days."
“And, as we know from Louis’ card on the tree at the carol service, Granny and Grandpa are great playmates for their grandchildren and have put in more than a shift or two playing games with them. I don’t think there’s any reason to suspect we’ll see more of them in 2025, but there will be the usual occasional public appearance as their parents gently acclimatise them to life in the public eye.”
