A new year – what next for the royals?

The new year is a whole week old and already royal plans are taking shape. But what could the 12 months ahead hold for the Royal Family as well as for the dynasties that reign in Europe? Here are a few predictions from our team.

Lydia Starbuck, Editor in Chief, Royal Central

The return of Donald Trump to the White House could well influence some royal events of 2025. The incoming number 47 has made no secret of his huge admiration for the Royal Family and he’s already had a one on one meeting with Prince William in Paris after both attended the reopening of Notre Dame. ‘Soft diplomacy’ looks like being a major strand of US/ UK relations as the second Trump turn begins – talk of a State Visit will increase while a smaller scale official visit isn’t off the table, especially as the 80th anniversary of VE Day could well see the US leader heading to Europe.

I’m hoping for something special to mark 20 years since the marriage of King Charles and Queen Camilla this spring. They wed on April 9th 2005 and wouldn’t the icing on that wedding cake be a display of Her Majesty’s two dresses at some point in the year?

There is every expectation that the Princess of Wales may be able to take on more public engagements in 2025 and that The King’s diary will also be able to incorporate so many of the events that mean so much to him. There is talk of a visit to Italy for King Charles and Queen Camilla while a tour for William and Catherine later in the year is also looking possible. A healthier year for all would surely be a boon.

And just to top it all off, this year we definitely get an abdication. Well, we haven’t had one since 2024.

In October 2025, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg will step aside in favour of his eldest son, Prince Guillaume, who will become Head of State. Expect plenty of emotion as this tiny country sees a change of reign – Henri is abdicating just days short of completing 25 years as Grand Duke.

Jess Ilse, Assistant Editor

New Year, new outlook, right? I’m thinking ahead!

We saw Princess Catharina-Amalia, the future queen of the Netherlands, at a few state visit events in 2024 and what a treat that was! Since her studies at the University of Amsterdam wrap up this year, and, as she outlined in a letter, she’ll start using her government allowance for staffing and operational expenses (she’d previously announced that she wouldn’t collect this without undertaking duties), I’m predicting that we’ll start to see Princess Amalia carrying out more official duties from the summer; maybe to fill the time before she announces potential graduate studies or military training?

I’m also predicting that we’ll see the Princess of Wales undertake an official visit with her husband. Canada’s nice, Catherine, please come back!

Princess Isabella of Denmark turns 18 in April, and she’s guaranteed a special gift from her father: the Order of the Elephant. She automatically became a member of the Order upon her father’s accession last year but it won’t be official until she turns 18. She’s also likely to receive her father’s Family Order (unlike in the United Kingdom, Danish royal women only wear the orders of the Sovereign they’re most closely related to) at some point, so I’d love to see a special portrait of Princess Isabella in her first tiara wearing all fo the orders she’s entitled to (bonus points if there’s a poignant story behind her elephant, like how her older brother’s was once Prince Henrik’s).

And finally, I’m predicting that Prince Carl Philip and Princess Sofia will have a little princess and that we’ll get an adorable family photo of doting big brothers Prince Alexander, Prince Gabriel and Prince Julian with their little sister.

Sydney Zatz, Royal Reporter

I predict we will see more from the Princess of Wales. Not only do I think we will hear more personal updates about her health, but I also think we will slowly see her increase the number of royal engagements in her diary.

I predict we might also see more of the Wales children out and about with their parents, especially Prince George, who turns 12 in July.

I also believe we could see some new patronages for the Duchess of Edinburgh as she has been taking on more and more royal duties. As far as His Majesty, I’d imagine he will keep with the royal engagements but perhaps limit some of the bigger tours.

We saw him and Queen Camilla tour Australia and New Zealand last year, but I think they might limit the number of tours and spread them out to younger members of the Monarchy.