Kate Middleton resumes royal duties slowly after a ‘brutal’ year for the royal family

Princess of Wales, Catherine, is gradually resuming her royal responsibilities with plans to participate in two upcoming remembrance ceremonies. She is scheduled to be present at both the Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday and the Remembrance Sunday service at the Cenotaph.

Queen Camilla's participation in these remembrance events remains uncertain, pending medical guidance closer to the dates. The 77-year-old monarch is currently recovering from a chest infection, which has led to the cancellation of several recent commitments.

The royal family faced mounting pressure during a particularly challenging period when social media became flooded with speculation and theories regarding the Princess of Wales's absence from public duties. The situation reached a junction when, amid intense public scrutiny and widespread conjecture, Catherine felt compelled to address the nation directly through a video announcement in March.

In this deeply personal message, she disclosed that following her surgery, post-operative tests had revealed the presence of cancer, which required her to undergo chemotherapy treatment.

In related news, The Prince of Wales shared personal reflections on what he described as an exceptionally challenging period, calling it the most difficult year of his life as his family faces health challenges.

According to The Independent, when asked by reporters how his year has been, he said, “Honestly? It’s been dreadful. It’s probably been the hardest year in my life.” William had taken time off Royal duties since his wife went through preventative chemotherapy. He added, “So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult."

“But I’m so proud of my wife, I’m proud of my father, for ­handling the things that they have done. But from a personal family point of view, it’s been, yeah, it’s been brutal.”

The family's distressing timescontinued into the summer months when another concerning incident affected the royal household. Princess Anne, aged 74, experienced a frightening accident while walking on the grounds of her estate when she was struck by a horse.

The impact resulted in a concussion and minor head trauma, requiring immediate medical attention. The Princess Royal was subsequently transported to the hospital, where she remained under medical supervision for a five-night stay.