2024 proved to be one of the toughest imaginable for King Charles. Having ascended to the throne in September 2022, he has found himself battling cancer through this year with treatment set to go into 2025.
He is not the only senior royal to face health worries. Catherine, the Princess of Wales, has also been treated for the disease, forcing her and Prince William to take a step back from royal duties.
Charles has seemingly set his sights on a more ‘normal’ royal year in 2025 – including a full diary of foreign trips – but the news his cancer treatment was being extended may put the brakes on that. His tour of Australia and Samoa was a PR success but left Queen Camilla, 77, with pneumonia and the King in need of a rest.
Charles turned 76 in November and thoughts have already turned to William’s ascension to the throne. We previously reported that he and Kate, both 42, had started planning on becoming King and Queen earlier than expected.
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Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told People magazine: “Although the King is carrying out his duties with typical determination, he has had to accept limitations during his cancer treatment. As a result William has been taking on more responsibilities, and he and Kate have been preparing for their future roles sooner than they would have expected.”
William has actually been planning his coronation for some time. In September the Mail on Sunday reported that he was “toying with the idea of abolishing the religious oaths of the Coronation” a move that could lead to the disestablishment of the Church of England.”
The royals head to chruch together on Christmas Day
(Image: Getty Images)
He is also said to be determined to ditch the ‘Homage of the People’ where members of the public are supposed to swear allegiance to the monarch and their heirs. William hopes to present a more modern version of monarchy although the ceremony will still take place at Westminster Abbey.
As things stand, Prince Harry, 40, will not be on the guestlist. Some form of planning will continue throughout 2025 so William and Kate are fully prepared when the time comes for them to step into their future roles
Courtiers and aides insist the King is fighting fit and can fulfill his duties, but a back up plan will be in place should he become too sick to rule. Charles himself took on a ‘de facto’ regency role in the latter years of his mother Queen Elizabeth’s reign and William will also be prepared for such and eventuality.
Sources quoted towards the end of the Queen’s reign said the country effectively had a co-monarchy. Other reports said there was a ‘soft regency’ around Charles in the early days of his cancer treatment.
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A regency would allow Charles to transfer his royal powers to William who would perform royal functions while Charles remains head of state. With plans for a full royal diary in 2025, that seems some way off but aides will have plans in place to deal with any such eventuality should Charles become unable to perform is duties for any reason.
William himself decided to focus on Kate’s cancer recovery this year leaving the likes of Princess Anne, 74, to pick up extra duties. With Kate seemingly getting back to full health, the future King will be expected to up his workload in the coming months.
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