The King is back in London and has already racked up one official duty as 2026 gets under way.
The Court Circular reports that King Charles held an audience at Clarence House on January 5, just hours after he was seen in Sandringham with members of his family.
There was business to get down to as The King presented Nathan Ross with the Insignia of a Member of the Royal Victorian Order as he gave up his post as Assistant Private Secretary to Charles III.
The presentation took place at Clarence House, the London home that King Charles and Queen Camilla have made their own for over twenty years.
The day before, King Charles had been seen at Sandringham where he attended Sunday service with Queen Camilla. They were joined by other members of the family including Peter Phillips, nephew of The King, who was at church with his fiancée, Harriet Sperling.
King Charles and Queen Camilla spent Christmas at their Norfolk home with the Royal Family. The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children joined them for festivities while Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were also among the royal party that walked to church on Christmas morning.
The royal diary usually warms up slowly in January but King Charles is starting 2026 as he ended 2025, with engagements. As the old year came to an end, it was revealed that The King had carried out more duties than any other member of the Royal Family that year, even eclipsing his sister, Princess Anne, who usually claims the crown for the most engagements.
The coming year is expected to prove just as busy for The King with reports of a trip to the United States in the spring as part of ongoing celebrations for the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
It’s also reported that the Prince and Princess of Wales could be travelling to the US as well in the summer – the World Cup is set to be held in the country and football loving Prince William might be keen to tie in an overseas visit with that.
Meanwhile, William and Kate are settling back into school run life at the start of a big year for their children. In the summer, Prince George will leave Lambrook school and head to the next stage of his education with Eton and Marlborough among the establishments tipped to welcome the 12 year old later this year.
