The British royal family has always been a source of public fascination, but the past year has brought a unique blend of hope, tension, and emotional complexity to its most prominent members. From health battles and heartfelt charity work to simmering family disputes and efforts at reconciliation, the House of Windsor has had anything but a quiet 2025. As the year draws to a close, the royal family’s challenges and triumphs are coming into sharp relief, painting a portrait of resilience—and unresolved discord.
Perhaps the most uplifting news came from the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, who announced earlier this year that her cancer was in remission. According to Tatler, Middleton had been treated at The Royal Marsden Hospital after her diagnosis in January 2024—a deeply personal chapter that has fueled her advocacy for cancer care and support. In a recent, unannounced visit to the Ever After Garden at The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, Kate paid tribute to those affected by the disease, a cause close to her heart. The Ever After Garden, as reported by Tatler, is a tranquil space where people dedicate roses in memory of loved ones lost to cancer, and raises vital funds for the hospital that treated the princess herself.
Middleton later shared a message on Instagram, expressing her gratitude: “Thank you to all those who have contributed to the Ever After Garden, which raises vital funds for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity. Every flower, every light, is a memory held together, an illumination of shared love, remembrance, and hope.” She signed her post simply, “C.” The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity’s Managing Director, Antonia Dalmahoy, described the visit as a special moment, stating, “The garden is incredibly special to so many who visit it each year, and we were delighted to share its tranquillity and beauty with Her Royal Highness.”
King Charles, too, has been candid about his own health struggles. On December 12, 2025, the monarch appeared on Channel 4’s Stand Up to Cancer broadcast, revealing that his cancer treatment schedule would be reduced in the new year—a development he attributed to “early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to ‘doctors’ orders.’” In his televised remarks, he called the news “a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years; testimony that I hope may give encouragement to the fifty percent of us who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives.”
Yet, as both the King and the Princess of Wales have found, the aftermath of cancer treatment is often more emotionally taxing than anticipated. During a visit to Colchester Hospital in Essex, Middleton spoke candidly with NHS patients and staff about the difficult transition to post-treatment life. She reflected, “You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment. Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,’ but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.” She went on, “You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to. You have to find your new normal and that takes time…and it’s a roller coaster, it’s not smooth, like you expect it to be. But the reality is you go through hard times.”
Despite these personal challenges, the royal family has strived to maintain a sense of unity and tradition. On Tuesday, December 16, the Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by their children Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, joined other senior royals for the traditional pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, hosted by King Charles. According to HELLO!, the event was also attended by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Lady Louise Windsor, the Duke of Kent, Lady Sarah Chatto, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie. Notably, Beatrice and Eugenie, absent from Kate’s carol concert on December 5, were seen smiling as they arrived for the festive meal—a gathering that has become a cherished royal tradition, initiated by the late Queen Elizabeth II. The lunch serves as a rare opportunity for the wider royal family to come together before the King departs for Sandringham, where the royals celebrate Christmas Day.
Last year, William, Kate, and their children missed the event, as they were already in Norfolk after the school break. Their presence this year was therefore especially meaningful for the monarch, who reportedly values the continuation of these family customs amidst changing times and ongoing public scrutiny.
However, beneath the surface of these public displays of unity, reports suggest that not all is harmonious within the royal household. According to OK! and other sources, tension has grown between Queen Camilla and Princess Kate over the issue of family reconciliation—specifically, efforts to heal the rift between Prince William and Prince Harry. Insiders claim that Kate has been quietly encouraging William to consider making amends with Harry, believing that mending family ties is both possible and necessary. Camilla, on the other hand, is said to be firmly opposed to such overtures, viewing them as “undermining the firm no-forgiveness stance she backs.”
One source described Camilla as “frustrated that Kate is still advocating for Harry after all the public comments he’s made. She thinks the situation has dragged on too long and has warned Kate that her approach is overly idealistic and risky.” The Queen’s opposition reportedly stems from lingering resentment over Harry’s criticisms of the monarchy and his decision to share private family matters with the media. “Camilla feels that any reconciliation with Harry should happen on his own terms. While Kate’s efforts are well-meaning, they are viewed as adding complexity to the situation,” another insider explained.
The reported friction is not limited to differing philosophies on forgiveness. Camilla is also said to be envious of Kate’s popularity and influence, particularly after the Princess of Wales was widely praised for her poise and confidence at the U.S. State Banquet in September 2025. According to OK!, Camilla “was in ‘rage,’ as she is ‘nowhere near as glam as Kate, and never will be.’”
Despite skepticism from some quarters, Kate’s role as a mediator within the family has not gone unnoticed. As one source put it, “Kate feels it’s important to safeguard family connections where she can. Her efforts have provided Harry with an opportunity to reconnect that might not have existed otherwise.” This sentiment appears to be echoed by Prince Harry himself, whose recent essay ‘The Bond, The Banter, The Bravery: What it Means to Be British’ expresses both his love for his home country and, perhaps, a longing for reconciliation.
As the royal family gathers for the holidays, they do so against a backdrop of hope, healing, and unresolved tension. The coming year may well reveal whether these efforts at unity and understanding can overcome the deep-seated wounds of the past—or whether the House of Windsor’s challenges are only just beginning.
