London A tumultuous 2024 came to an end as the British royal family gathered for Christmas dinner.
The royal family has had a difficult year, particularly after King Charles III and Kate, the Princess of Wales, were both diagnosed with cancer.
To acknowledge this fact, Charles broke with tradition by giving his yearly King’s Speech from a former hospital chapel. This was the first time in over ten years that the Christmas address was not given from a royal home or estate.
In his speech, Charles extended a special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who he said had “supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed.”
In addition, he expressed his feelings to those impacted by the numerous wars going on around the globe, talked about meeting veterans on the 80th anniversary of D-Day, and cited his recent Commonwealth Summit trip to the South Pacific as proof that diversity in religion, culture, and ethnicity is a strength rather than a weakness.
Charles wished you and everyone you care about a very happy and tranquil Christmas.
According to Katie Nicholl, the royal writer for Vanity Fair, Christmas is a very significant time for the royal family. She told NBC News that the last time the public saw the family in full force, grinning and doing what they love, which was meeting members of the public, was on Christmas Day of last year.
The Sandringham estate in Norfolk, on the east coast of England, is where the royal family is spending their vacation. Five generations of British kings have lived on the estate.
They participated in a walk where they greeted members of the public after attending the customary ceremony at a church close to Sandringham House on Christmas morning.
The remainder of their holiday festivities, however, will mostly be kept under wraps, ending a year that Prince William called “brutal” due to the cancer diagnoses of both his father and wife. It has been terrible. Last month, William told NBC News’ foreign partner Sky News that it has likely been the most difficult year of his life.
Last week, Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a pre-Christmas meal at Buckingham Palace, but noteworthy absences included William and his family, as well as Charles’ brother Prince Andrew.
Since they were already in Norfolk with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, William and Kate did not go.
However, in an interview with NBC News last Thursday, Emily Nash, royal editor at Hello! magazine, stated that Andrew’s absence was yet another devastating blow to him and his family.
Following a British High Court decision last week that claimed he had developed an unprecedented level of trust with a man suspected of being a Chinese spy, the scandal-plagued prince made headlines once more. After concerns were voiced, Andrew stopped all communication with the person, according to a statement from his office.
Andrew had previously been linked to notorious sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and in 2021Virginia Giuffrefiled a lawsuit against Andrew accusing him of sexually abusing her on separate occasions in the 1990s, when she was 17.
Andrew has refuted the accusation on multiple occasions. Later on, he settled Giuffre’s claim by paying a large sum.
During the 1982 battle with Argentina for the far-flung Falkland Islands, Andrew, a former war hero, flew several missions in the British Royal Navy. In January 2022, he retracted his royal patronages and military ties.
He has lost any sort of public life and work, and now he s having to absent himself from private family gatherings, Nash said. It s all about protecting the reputation of the royal family.
He s in the eye of the storm at the moment, she added.
Last year, Andrew attended a Christmas Day service at Sandringham with the rest of the royal family, so he has come back in from the cold somewhat in the past, but right now that doesn t look like it s happening anytime soon, Nash said.
Earlier this month, Kate continued a long-standing tradition byhosting her annual carol service at Westminster Abbey in London. The service was closed to the public, though 1,600 members of the community were invited to attend.
The service was recorded Dec. 6 and aired by British broadcaster ITV on Christmas Eve.
Nicholl, reflecting on the significance of Kate s concert, said she brings not just the nation together on Christmas Eve for her carol concert, but also the royal family, her family. I think it closes [the year] on a note of hope and optimism.
In January this year, Kate washospitalized for nearly two weeksto undergo abdominal surgery for unspecified reasons. Testing revealed she had cancer, and she later disclosed in a rare video statement that she was undergoing chemotherapy, her first public acknowledgment of her health struggles amidwidespread speculation.
In September, Kate said she hadcompleted chemotherapy treatmentand would return to a light schedule of public engagements through the end of the year.
In February, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Charles, now 76, had been diagnosed with cancer. The statement said he chose to share his diagnosis in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.
Heresumed public dutiesas king in April after progress was made in his treatment. The illness had raised speculation that Charles may even abdicate the throne, a possibility royal experts say is unlikely but highlighted the challenges to his rule.
An investigationpublished last month by the U.K. s Sunday Times and Channel 4 s Dispatches program uncovered details about about the royal family s property empires and the tax-free business deals they have struck with taxpayer-funded government institutions to maintain their wealth.
Small anti-monarchy protests also greeted Charles during an October trip to Australia, which is set to vote on a referendum on whether to remain a constitutional monarchy. The death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, revived debates among Commonwealth countries about leaving the monarchy, with some planning referendums to vote on whether to remove Charles as head of state.
Meanwhile, Camilla, 77, has also faced health challenges. A chest infection caused her to misslast month s Remembrance events, which honor British and Commonwealth service members who lost their lives in conflict.
This only added to the uncertainty surrounding the health of the royal family s senior members this year.
Despite the year s challenges, it has brought the royal family so close together, particularly the Princess of Wales and the king, given their shared experience with cancer, Nicholl said, adding: I think they ve never looked tighter as a family.
However, this closeness within the royal family highlights the divide with Charles younger son, Prince Harry.
Harry andhis wife, Meghan Markle, along with their children, Archie and Lilibet, are not attending Christmas at Sandringham.
Their children have only met their grandfather on less than a handful of occasions, Nicholl said. There is very much a divide, both physically and metaphorically, between Harry, who lives in California, and the rest of the royal family.
Although Harry has spoken of his hopes for reconciliation, Nicholl noted, it does seem some way off.
Harry s memoir, released at the start of 2023, made headlines for its revelations and allegations. In the spring,Harryofficially considered himself a resident of the U.S., according to a U.K. regulatory filing. He and Meghan relocated to California in 2020 afterstepping back from royal duties.
While the door has always remained open for the king, Nicholl said, he wants to have a relationship with his son. There is a fundamental issue that there s been a breakdown of trust here. I think Harry needs to earn that trust back.
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