Prince William, Kate Middleton and their three young children started Christmas early this year at their multi-million dollar country estate.
They skipped the traditional festive lunch at Buckingham Palace on Thursday with King Charles and the rest of the extended royal family, instead hunkering down at Anmer Hall in Norfolk after what a family friend called “an incredibly difficult time.”
William, 42, has dubbed this year “brutal” after the Princess of Wales’ battle with cancer took her largely out of the public eye for the past 12 months — and led to wild public speculation.
Kate has now finished her chemotherapy treatment and the couple is at home with their kids, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and 6-year-old Prince Louis.
“No one could have expected what this year has brought for the Prince and Princess of Wales,” said the friend. “Family is so important to them, and the children are the center of their universe.
“They wanted to start celebrating early. They’re focused this Christmas [season] on being with the family at home and then joining the rest of the Windsor family on Christmas Day. The Prince of Wales has said this has been the hardest year of his life.”
Given that he was just 15 years old when his mother, Princess Diana, died in August 1997, that is truly saying something.
“I’m told she’s getting better and that’s indicated by slightly more frequent appearances … but it’s clearly been absolutely devastating and very difficult for her, and she’s not out of the woods yet,” Hugo Vickers, noted royal historian and friend of the family, told Page Six.
The ramifications of these past 12 months are far reaching for Kate and William — who live with the knowledge that, as Prince and Princess of Wales, they are potentially just a heartbeat from becoming King and Queen, particularly as King Charles continues his own treatment for cancer.
Should she be called upon sooner rather than later, “Catherine is as ready as she will ever be to be queen,” said Vickers.
Sources told us King Charles was “exhausted” following the end of his nine-day trip to Australia and Samoa in October with Queen Camilla, during which he paused his treatment.
“He looks quite knackered up close and red around the eyes and thinner,” said one royal insider who has seen Charles recently, “Especially for someone who normally looks so vigorous, but I suppose it’s only to be expected after 10 months of cancer treatment.
On Friday, a Buckingham Palace source confirmed to Page Six that the 76-year-old monarch will continue his treatment into the next year, but said it was still a “very encouraging status quo.”
The King’s health is still being “managed” but is “moving in a positive direction,” the source added. His Majesty intends to return to a full program of public duties next year. This will include “exciting” UK and international visits in the first half of 2025, the insider said.
Charles, in fact, joked that he was “still alive” as he gave high-fives during a final engagement before Christmas on Friday in north London with Camilla.
